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Four Reasons Why You Should Wear Sunglasses in the Winter
It’s natural to associate sunglasses with the beach, road trips, and summer in general. And, we don’t see as much of the sun during winter, so it’s easy to forget that your eyes are still susceptible to damage during the colder months.
Any snow on the ground can reflect light back into your eyes and cause glare, eye strain, impaired vision, and other unpleasant issues. But, you can easily protect your eyes during the winter with something you probably already have in your bag or car.
Here are four reasons why you should wear sunglasses in the winter.
1. They reduce glare.
What exactly is
glare? Well, it’s sunlight that obstructs your windshield (or general view) during the sunrise or sunset hours, making it difficult to see what’s in front of you—even a few seconds after you’ve been exposed to the intense light.
Glare is actually worse in the fall and winter; when the sun is lower in the horizon, it hits the earth and reflects at a lower (and brighter) angle. Snow, ice, rearview mirrors, and traffic lights all produce bright reflections. While a winter wonderland is beautiful, its glare can impair your ability to see while walking, skiing, or driving.
But, when you wear sunglasses, you’ll significantly reduce glare while driving, protecting yourself and others around you. Plus, your eyes will be much more comfortable! And, if you normally wear glasses, you can still avoid glare with prescription sunglasses.
2. They protect your eyes from UV rays.
You likely already know that UVA and UVB
rays are two types of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun that can cause skin damage. But, prolonged exposure to UV rays—even in the winter—will also increase your chances of eye problems, such as:
- Age-related macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss for older Americans
- Cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s natural (light-detecting) lens
- Corneal sunburn (photokeratitis), short-term yet intense exposure to UVB rays that can cause temporary vision loss
- Pterygium, a growth that may spread to the cornea and block vision
- Skin cancer, which can occur around the eyelids
The good news is that your shades are excellent for blocking these harmful UV rays and keeping your eyes safe from the sun. Wearing sunglasses in the winter can also help you prevent the delicate skin around your eyes from wrinkling.
3. They keep out wind, dust, and debris.
Dry eyes, watery eyes, and general eye irritation
are common complaints during the winter. When the cold air hits our eyes, they form reactionary tears—extra tears you get when your eyes are irritated. The tear film at the front of your eye evaporates quickly in the sharp wind, leaving your eyes uncomfortably dry.
Wearing sunglasses in the winter can reduce the evaporation of your eyes’ tears and natural moisture. This can also keep contacts lenses from drying out in the wind.
On windy days, particles can land in your eyes and scratch them, or even cause corneal abrasions. But, sunglasses can protect you
from dust and debris—especially if you have the close-fitting, wraparound style of shades.
4. They reduce eye strain and headaches.
In bright lighting, your pupils automatically constrict; in dim lighting, your pupils automatically dilate. Eye strain
occurs in extremely bright or inadequate lighting when your pupils can’t adjust to a comfortable brightness level.
The retinas in the back of your eye are sensitive to light, and with extremely bright winter sun or snow, your pupils can’t constrict enough to reduce light exposure. This causes you to squint, leading to eye strain and even headaches.
Sunglasses will help you drastically reduce the amount of light that reaches your eyes. An especially effective option is photochromic lenses: those that darken automatically when exposed to bright sunlight or reflections.
Thinking about eye damage can be scary, but you can easily protect your vision by wearing your sunglasses in the winter. Blocking out glare, preventing eye strain and headaches, and avoiding damage from UV rays and debris are all great reasons to keep your shades on. This winter, make your eye health and safety a priority!
Dr. Steven C. Mather 1401 Union Street Lafayette, Indiana 47904 765.742.1955 Dear Esteemed Patients, After 43 years of dedicated service, it is with mixed emotions that I announce my retirement from my medical practice as of March 9th. It has been an incredible journey, one that I have cherished every moment of, and I am looking forward to spending more time on my new title of Grandpa. Our practice has rich history that dates back to 1946 with Dr. Peterson and in 1959 my uncle, Dr. Robert Mather, succeeded him. I was overjoyed to continue his legacy when I took over the practice in 1989. Over the years, we have built strong relations with our patients, and for that, we are profoundly grateful. Your loyalty and trust have been the driving force behind our success, and we cannot thank you enough for allowing us to be part of your lives for the past 78 years. I am thrilled to inform you that I have chosen to entrust the future of our practice to our friends at Norman and Miller Eyecare. They bring with them a wealth of knowledge, skill, and compassion, ensuring that you will continue to receive the highest quality of care. As I embark on this new chapter of my life, I do so with deep sense of gratitude and appreciation for each and every one of you. While I will miss seeing your familiar faces in the office, I am confident that you will be in excellent hands with Norman and Miller Eyecare. Please join me in welcoming them to our practice and continuing to entrust them with your healthcare needs. They share our commitment to providing personalized, compassionate care, and I am confident that they will uphold the legacy that we have worked so hard to build. They will continue to serve you at our 1401 Union Street location, however, if there is a location more convenient to you, your records will be available at all Norman and Miller Eyecare locations. Thank you once again for your trust and support over the years. It has been an honor and privilege to serve you, and I look forward to watching our practice flourish under the new leadership. With Warm Regards,
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