Sunglasses
We offer a great choice of sunglasses in stunning styles, many of which can be made to your individual prescription, whether single vision, bifocal or varifocal. You can choose between various branded manufacturers and any of our adult’s or children’s frames can be glazed as sunglasses, including photochromic and polarised lenses. They can also be made thinner and lighter for those with higher prescriptions. Our dispensing optician will be happy to help you choose the perfect pair. We are confident we can make anyone look good in our sunspecs…. well, almost anyone….
Whether you require a fashion or sports lens, we have a full range of available sunglasses tints, from graduated lenses that emphasise your eyes, to polarised lenses that dramatically reduce glare from the sun on bright surfaces, such as snow, water, sand or concrete. All of our tinted lenses block UV light in even the most extreme conditions.
As well as being a fashion statement, sunglasses also protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. UV rays can damage your eyes, just as sunburn damages your skin. This UV damage can be temporary or permanent and can sometimes be painful, so it’s a good idea to avoid it by wearing adequate eye protection. If you’re going to be in bright sunlight, you should wear sunglasses that are designed to block or absorb UV rays. All of our sunglasses comply with British Standards and have UV400 ratings, so they block and absorb at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays.
Damage from the Sun and UV Exposure
Cataracts and Macula Degeneration
Although often age related, cataracts and macula degeneration are accelerated or worsened by UV exposure. We recommend anyone showing signs of these conditions to wear UV protection whenever out in the daylight, whether it be sunny, cloudy, summer or winter.
Pingueculae and Pterygia
Both are benign growths on the eye which are caused by long term UV exposure and may cause irritation. A pinguecula appears as a yellowish, slightly raised bump, while a pterygium is a more fleshy, wing-shaped growth that may involve blood vessels and can extend onto the cornea. In it’s advanced form a pterygium may grow over the pupil and then surgery is needed to regain the sight.
Direct UV Exposure
Eye Cancers
UV light exposure increases the risk of certain eye cancers, such as melanomas on the conjunctiva or the eyelids and surrounding skin. This can be very aggressive and needs attention as soon as possible. Sunglasses are recommended for everyone, particularly those with a family history of these conditions.
Over-exposure to direct UV light can cause photokeratitis. It can be caused by very bright artificial light, like a welding torch or a tanning lamp or from sunlight, either direct or reflected from surfaces such as sand, water, snow or ice (snow blindness). It affects your cornea, which is the thin, clear layer at the front of your eye in a similar way to sunburn. It can be very painful but usually subsides after 48 hours.
More extreme UV exposure, from sunbed lights, lasers, or direct viewing of the sun can burn the retinal cells at the back of the eye which can lead to vision loss or blind spots. This is called solar retinopathy and it is usually painless but often permanent.
Whether you are concerned about UV exposure, or if you just want a new pair of sunglasses to look good on holiday, book an appointment for an eye examination with one of our optometrists, or book to see our dispensing optician who will help you choose some great sunglasses to suit your needs.