Sunglasses necessary for UV protection?

Im a 45 yr old male

Ive always heard it wise to wear sunglasses as much as
possible to prevent eye damage from UV rays.

Im curious..... can one get UV protection from just
wearing clear prescription glasses..... no tinting?

Ive always worn corrective lenses since I was 10 yrs
old..... but have seldom worn sunglasses. Don't wear
them now

Did I get ANY protection form UV rays just wearing
corrective lenses all them years?

Is it still a very wise thing for me to get TINTED
sunglasses anyway?

I guess what Im curious abt... is it the "tinting" that
gives you UV protection..... or if it is just the glass
or plastic "material" of the lenses that give you
protection regardless of the color?

How does it work?

And should I get sunglasses anyway?

John

 

Ive always heard it wise to wear sunglasses as much as

In most countries they have UV protection. E.g. in Italy they are
REQUIRED to have UV protection otherwise they can't be sold.

Probably. But it's also possible that in the past the prescription
glasses didn't have the UV protection...
I don't know
Wait for other replies

Sunglasses usually are wider and cover the eye better.

BUT, tinted sunglasses will make your pupils open wider so the UV which
gets into the pupil from the side of the glasses might be about the
same, while the UV which reaches the eyelids/sclera will probably be
lower with sunglasses. Best would be CLEAR sunglasses!

The UV is a tint but since it's an UV-tint it's not a visible color, so
glasses with UV tint only are clear (sometimes a bit yellowish if the
tint is really wide spectrum and goes a bit over the blue)

The darkening shouldn't have any effect on the UV by itself

The material also might shield some UV.

Someone recommends it. For preventing eyelids cancer, conjunctivitis,
eyelid ageing sunglasses will be better than prescription glasses. For
diseases internal to the eye (cataract, floaters and...? can't remember)
due to the reason said above, probably tinted sunglasses are equivalent
to prescription glasses; clear sunglasses a bit superior.

I GUESS.

[Not a doc]

 

This is a question that pops up here from time to time.

All ophthalmic lenses block short-wavelength UV, usually to about 340nm.
That includes the shorter wavelength UV radiation which most
science-based discussion would conclude can damage eye (and skin)
tissue. These are the so-called burning rays.

Polycarbonate, Trivex and most high-index plastic lenses also block
additional UV wavelengths from 340 to 400nm (400 is the beginning of the
visible spectrum for humans). Perhaps arguably, some wavelengths in
this range may contribute to longer-term tissue changes.

So yes, clear lenses without tint can provide UV protection.

The addition of UV coating to polycarb and the other plastics (see
above) is a scam. Added to CR39 plastic and glass, this will extend UV
blocking to include the longer wavelength radiation, but whether or not
that is of value is questionable.

You must also consider the exposure to UV that enters the facial area of
the eyes from above, below and from the sides. Better protection is
acheived by spectacle lenses that shade those areas----or wearing a hat
with a brim.

It is a myth that wearing a tinted lens is potentially more damaging
because it allows the pupil to dilate (open up). With the exception of
very dark tints, this simply does not occur, and in that specific
situation when it might, so much incident radiation is being blocked by
the lens that it doesn't matter in any event.

--LB

--
Dr. Larry Bickford, O.D.
Family Practice Eye Health & Vision Care

The Eyecare Connection
http//www.eyecarecontacts.com
larrydoc at m a c.c o m