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The Optical Co.
The Optical Co.
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Let’s Talk About UV

Sunglasses look great and help you see clearly in bright sunlight, but many people don’t realise just how important they are for protecting your eyes too!


Ultraviolet (UV) rays are emitted by the sun and can damage unprotected eyes, contributing to eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts later on in life.


The Link Between UV Rays And Cataracts

UV rays are made up of UVA, UVB and UVC rays. UVA can penetrate the cornea at the front of your eye, going through the lens right through to your retina at the back. Over many years, UV rays damage the protein in the lens, causing it to thicken and become cloudy, eventually creating a cataract.


This process can begin at a young age causing cumulative damage if you continuously expose your eyes to sunlight. Although cataracts most commonly form around the age of 50 or 60, they can actually affect people of all ages, so it’s never too early to start protecting your eyes!


What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts?

Cataract symptoms are not usually noticeable at first but can gradually get worse. They include:


● finding it harder to see in low light

● blurred or clouded vision

● halos appearing around lights

● glasses prescription increasing frequently

Sunglasses Aren’t Just For Summer


Our experienced team highly recommend always wearing sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection on bright summer days to minimise the harmful effects of UV rays on the eyes.


However, UV is always present and can even reach your eyes on more overcast days, which means that it’s a good idea to invest in a pair of sunglasses that you love and can wear all year round.

Protect the Whole Family

Kids’ eyes are more sensitive than ours, so it’s even more important for them to wear sunglasses from infancy upwards. Kids tend to spend more time outside, in fact, half of their life’s exposure to the sun will occur within the first 20 years of their life!


The lens in their eye is also clearer, allowing around 70% more UV light in than adults. Damaged proteins in the lens never recover – so the earlier kids start wearing sunnies, the less damage their eyes will be prone to later in life.


Polarised Vs. Non-Polarised Sunglasses

While ordinary sunglasses will protect your eyes from UV, they aren’t designed to completely eliminate bright glare that reflects off horizontal surfaces like tarmac, water, and car bonnets into your eyes. This can often cause you to squint, resulting in eye strain and fatigue. Moreover, bright glare can also be dangerous when driving, as it can temporarily obscure your vision of the road ahead.


This is where polarised lenses for sunglasses can help! Designed to eliminate glare, enhance colour contrast, and improve depth perception, these sunglasses are the perfect solution for improved clarity of vision and reduced eye strain in the face of bright sunlight. Take a look at our blog here to read all about Serengeti - one of our favourite sunglasses collections that offers advanced polarised lens technology.


Personalise Your Sunglasses


In this day and age, you don’t need to settle for a pair of sunglasses that doesn’t meet your specific needs! At our independent opticians in Cobham, we can make your shades completely bespoke, with a variety of different lens tints available to match your lifestyle and vision.


We are proud of our carefully curated selection of sunglasses, and our experienced team are here to take however much time is required to help you and your family pick frames you love to wear and find lenses that are perfect for all of your individual needs.


Visit us for a complimentary sunglasses styling consultation, or book in a comprehensive eye exam if you are worried about cataracts for your peace of mind.

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