Many people tend to think that because sunglasses are a relatively recent invention (they have really only been commonplace since plastics were invented), they are not a necessary part of life. In reality, sunglasses help maintain people's visual acuity for much longer than was possible sixty years or more ago. If you want to avoid blindness, cancer, and cosmetic issues like fine lines and wrinkles, sunglasses are necessity. We take an in-depth look at why UV protective sunglasses should be an everyday part of your life. 

Damage is permanent

Our bodies have a natural ability to regenerate dead and damaged cells. This ability means that a leg which has been snapped in half can heal itself and be walked on, and that people who have smoked for thirty years can still run, swim and work as hard as any non-smoker after they have quit for a certain amount of time. However, cells in some areas of the body do not regenerate. For example, brain cells do not always regenerate, female eggs don’t regenerate once they have died, and our teeth are also notoriously slow to 'heal'. Our eyes are the same - any damage you do to your lens or cornea is not automatically healed. UV light is one of the major damage factors for eyes, so prevention is not just better than cure ... it is the only cure. 

Cataracts and the sun

Cataracts are a clouding of the lens in your eye, and can be caused by excessive exposure to UV radiation. Cataracts occur when proteins that naturally occur in the cornea change and mutate, often after exposure to UV radiation. Cataracts cannot always be removed with surgery ... so protective sunglasses may literally save you from blindness. 

Macular degeneration and the sun.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness and vision loss often the age of 40. The macula is the central part of the retina, which allows us to see fine details. People with macular degeneration often notice the damage first when they are reading. It then progresses to not being able to drive, and not being able to recognize faces. Almost all daily activities are eventually affected. Macular degeneration can result from a number of factors, but damage from UV light is a major one. Choose UV sunglasses if you want to remain independent into your old age. 

Cancer risk

Most other parts of our body can be covered with either clothing or sunscreen - but not our eyes. UV sunglasses are the cancer preventive method of choice, to avoid getting skin cancer on or around the eyelids, and also to prevent cancer of the conjunctiva. 

Fine lines and wrinkles

It is no secret that UV damage from the sun causes premature aging of the skin. However, this aging is most noticeable in the thin, delicate skin around the eye. Crows feet and fine lines develop readily around our eyes - but are just as readily prevented with protective sunglasses. 

When choosing your sunglasses, look for glasses that carry a label indicating they comply with or exceed the requirements of AS/NZS 1067:2003 and are category 2, 3 or 4. Some sunglasses list an EPF, or EPF Protection Factor. With glasses, this scale runs from 0 to 10 - look for as high an EPF as possible.