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Cheap sunglasses
11:30 (GMT+2), Thu, 26 April 2012

LIFESTYLE NEWS - Did you know that wearing cheap sunglasses may be more harmful to your eye that not wearing any sunglasses at all?

HERE IS WHY
When your eyes are exposed to sunlight, the pupil constricts to minimise the amount of light entering the eyes, thus also less exposure the harmful UV rays. At night time the opposite happens, the pupils dilate (enlarge) to maximise the amount of light into the eyes and help us see better in low-light conditions.

When we wear sunglasses at daytime, the light conditions behind the sunglasses are darker due to the tint of the lenses, so the pupils tend to dilate (enlarge) as stated above. The problem now is that the natural protection mechanism of the constricting pupil does not work and more light and importantly more UV rays enter the eye. That is way more proper sunglasses have 100% UV protection.

Most cheap sunglasses have no UV or limited UV protection. So where a proper sunglasses lens with block all UV entering the enlarged pupil, cheap sunglasses will worsen it, letting more UV into the eye than what would enter the eye without any sunglasses.

And that is way wearing cheap sunglasses is more damaging to the inner eye than not wearing.

Please take note we are not suggesting you don't wear sunglasses, sunglasses are still one of the most effective ways in preventing cataracts, macular degeneration and other ocular conditions. Just make sure next time you buy sunglasses that they have adequate UV protection.

If you have any question regarding sunglasses or any eye related queries, contact Werner from The Eyewear Boutique @ Werner Fourie Optometrists on 044 873 4888.