OOOO, See! Not Just An Obsession!

Anyone who knows me knows that I am not a shoe lover. I am not addicted to purses or clothes. I do, however, have a very strong pension for sunglasses. And it turns out that this love will serve to protect my eyes in the future. So, doesn't that work out nicely? Unlike purses and shoes that potentially put strain on the back, my obsession will actually enhance my overall health. All the more reason to run out and snag that pair of Coach sunglasses I've been salivating over! Here is the article I will be citing to justify all future "optical protection" purchases. The article can be found at http://bodyforlife.com/exercise/articles.asp.

For Your Health: How to protect your eyes.

By Victoria Freeman
Sunglasses—more than just a fashion statement

Q: I can’t seem to keep up with sunglasses. I either break or lose them as fast as I buy them. Are they really that important for eye protection?

A: Sounds like you need to come up with a retention plan! And in answer to your question, yes they are important for eye health. Sunglasses protect your eyes by enhancing your natural light-filtering capabilities and by blocking the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are two types of UV rays: UVA and UVB. Both can do serious damage to your skin, but it’s the UVA rays that are linked to impaired vision. According to the American Academy of Opthamology (www.aao.org), long-term, cumulative exposure increases the risk of disorders like cataracts and macular degeneration. Like you’ve probably heard for skin protection, UV rays are the strongest between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m., so be extra cautious then, even in overcast weather.

Here are a few tips to consider when selecting your next eye gear.
*Look for a statement about how much UV radiation the lenses block. Go for 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays.
*Since sunlight can still come through the top or sides of your glasses, it’s also a good idea to wear a visor or wide-brimmed hat and pick a sunglasses style that wraps around your face.
*Different colored lenses may be better for different activities. For example, gray lenses are

ideal for driving as they don’t distort primary colors (like traffic signs and signals). Brown-

tinted lenses can sharpen detail and reduce glare so they’re good for outdoor sports, and

green lenses are good for cloudy conditions.

*Dark tinting doesn’t necessarily mean better protection. UV barrier coating is invisible and

therefore unrelated to lens darkness or color. As a matter of fact, dark lenses that don’t

carry UV protection may be the worst of all because your pupils have to dilate to adjust to

reduced light, which, in turn, allows in even more UV radiation.

Ok everyone! There's some really good information... here's to YOUR healthy eyes!