Varionet News
Summer is here: how to protect your eyes from the sun?
Sight is, among our 5 senses , the one we use the most. But how do you protect your eyesight in summer with the intensity of the sun? Our eyes are fragile and need to be taken care of.
What are the risks of the sun for your eyes?
On the front of the eye is the cornea, it protects the eyes from UV from the sun .
Vuarnet and sunglasses: a long story!
sunglasses day
A few days after the start of summer, on June 27, in the United States and Canada, National Sunglasses Day is celebrated each year. This day was created by the Vision Council which dedicates a site to it nationalsunglassesday.com
Why a National Sunglasses Day?
This day is a simple and fun way to remind the American population of the importance of sun protection . It is necessary to protect yourself from glare, solar and UV radiation as well as the dangers associated with exposure to the sun. UV radiation (especially UVA) is harmful to the eyes and the skin, which is why it is strongly recommended to wear sunscreen to prevent burns, degeneration, cancer, etc.
During strong and long exposure, UV can cause problems in the white of the eye, keratitis, cataracts, retinal damage... In addition, sunscreens are an active anti-wrinkle! Your protected eyes are relaxed; fewer wrinkles and fine lines appear at the corner of the eyes. In addition, by blocking UV rays, your eyelids, whose skin is thin and sensitive, are protected, less risk of cancer.
Which sunglasses to choose?
Here are some tips for choosing the best sunglasses:
- Check that they provide good UV protection, 100% UV or UV400 protection
- Choose a category suited to its use: cat.4 for high mountains or sailing, cat.2 for moderately sunny weather... For summer activities, driving, cat.3 sunglasses are ideal and master key.
- Prefer a pair of comfortable sunglasses that do not slip, large and covering.
- And of course opt for nice looking glasses!
Take the opportunity to offer or you sunglasses and do not hesitate to share your photos on our instagram or facebook pages
Choose your sunglasses wisely!
Summer is definitely here with its long sunny days. Despite all its benefits, the sun can also have harmful effects, sun protection is required.
Just as we coat our face and body with sunscreen, it is essential to protect our eyes with sunglasses . For many activities these are useful all year round but become an essential complement for the summer period.
The chosen sunglasses must meet several criteria:
- Protection
- Aesthetics
- Quality
The notion of aesthetics is certainly not the most important for sunglasses but it is essential because the sunglasses must cover and please you in order to become your best friends! Wearing your sunglasses to go outside in the summer should be a reflex.
Good protection is fundamental. Large covering glasses will protect your eyes and ocular appendages (eyelids, conjunctiva, corner of the eye, etc.) from damage from the rays, as will protective glasses adapted according to use and geographical location. Indeed, solar radiation is more intense and harmful when light is reflected on certain surfaces: water, sand, road, snow mainly.
The quality of the sunglasses is "vital", first of all your glasses must absolutely bear the CE logo on one of the temples. This certifies that the lenses meet the solar standard of European legislation as well as the protection category ranging from 0 to 4.
Attention !
Many cool looking glasses are counterfeits and fitted with badly made lenses. On June 16, French customs got their hands on a batch of 12,000 “dangerous” sunglasses from China.
These glasses are dangerous and especially for the youngest. They are certainly tinted, the wearer then has the feeling of being protected because less dazzled. It is then that the pupil dilates (a normal and natural phenomenon of the eye) and leaves the door wide open to UV rays and harmful radiation.
This is why it is essential to obtain your solar equipment from an optician!
Protect your eyes in winter sports
The snow and the long-awaited vacation are finally here. Many of you enjoy the various activities offered by the snow-capped mountains: skiing, snowboarding, ice climbing… for all these activities wearing sunglasses is essential due to the strong solar radiation and reverberation . In winter, the sun is lower and its rays skim the earth, making them more annoying and dangerous. At the same time UV radiation is up to 8 times stronger on snow due to their reflective properties.
For winter sports, even on cloudy days , the sunglasses chosen must have certain essential characteristics:
- Impact resistance
- Lightness
- Adaptability for a comfortable fit
- UV protection
- Category 3 or 4 glasses
- Polarized lenses and mirror treatment
Many people do not protect themselves or poorly and then suffer from snow blindness, it is an inflammation of the cornea linked to prolonged exposure to UV rays, it is comparable to sunburn. Symptoms often appear a few hours after exposure.
For optimal comfort, we offer a selection of easy-to-wear sunglasses with polarized and mirrored lenses, they are extremely light and protect you from UV rays and glare.
Let's not forget the youngest, children or teenagers, by equipping them with a mask or following the activity with simple sunglasses .
Protect your eyes in the mountains
In the mountains, in winter, whether you are skiing or snowshoeing, sun protection is essential for the skin, but also for the eyes .
Effects of altitude on vision
In elevation , the reverberation increases the luminosity , which generates a significant discomfort (glare).
A cloudy sky absorbs the brightness but allows 90% of UV to pass through . As for your skin, these harmful rays can cause real "sunburn" (ophthalmia of the eyes*), but also affect the cornea (cataract) and the retina (AMD).
In fact, UV rays are less filtered by the atmosphere: the higher the altitude, the greater the amount of UV . In addition, the sun is reflected on the snow, a very reflective surface, because it reflects 80 to 95% of UV rays (while in comparison, sand only reflects 20%).
Glasses in the mountains
The choice of your glasses in the mountains:
– A curved frame , covering but ventilated (to avoid fogging).
– A lens with good optical qualities (no deformation), impact resistant, category 3 or 4 (so as not to be dazzled). There are photochromic lenses, which allow you to go from category 3 to 4, or 2 to 4. The lenses can be treated anti-reflection on the inside to eliminate dazzling reflections. Finally, one can consider the use of polarizing lenses .
– The color of the glass provides a visual effect:
Grey: for all weather
Yellow-orange: for days with dazzling sunshine
Brown: for cloudy days (increases contrast and provides better perception of relief and depth of field)
The color of the glass is not a guarantee of protection: only 100% UV protection guarantees optimal protection .
Watch out for children!
As for their skin, finer and more fragile, you have the total screen reflex, do not skip wearing glasses or a mask.
