Eyewear for All Seasons

Protect your eyes in every seasonSeasons change, but your need for eye protection remains the same. At Eye Q Premium Laser, we know the importance of protecting the eyes from the elements, and during seasonal sports and other activities. Here is some information on the different types of eye protection used throughout the year.

Spring and Summer

In the spring and summer months, when the sun’s rays are strongest, it is essential to wear sunglasses that have 100 percent UV-ray protection. During the spring, wearing wraparound sunglasses will help block pollen from getting in your eyes and causing allergy symptoms like dry, red itchy eyes.

Wearing polarized sunglasses in sunny weather reduces glare and makes it easier to see in bright conditions. Polarized sunglasses use a special filter that blocks intense sunlight that usually scatters light in a horizontal direction, creating an annoying and sometimes dangerous glare. These glasses are ideal for reducing sun glare from the water’s reflection while boating and fishing. Cyclists, golfers and joggers can also use them to up their game with no distraction from the sun.

For swimming in the summer months, well-fitting swim goggles protect the eyes from the sun and also the microorganisms and other particles in the water. For indoor swimming, choose clear lens goggles to see in low light. For outdoor swimming, choose tinted goggles to reduce sun glare.

Fall and Winter

With the inception of fall comes a series of outdoor sports, all of which require attention to eye care. For example, since eye injuries are fairly common with outdoor sports that involve racquets and balls, such as tennis and racquetball, it is important to wear sports goggles made of polycarbonate (lightweight, impact-resistant lenses). Sports goggles, which can be worn over prescription glasses, are also recommended for contact sports like rugby and football, where eyes need to be protected from rough contact with other players and the force of the ball.

To protect your eyes in the winter, when 85 percent of the sun’s UV rays are reflected upward, find a pair of sunglasses with a lighter tint that will block the lower angles of light from the winter sun as well as sun reflection from the snowy ground. In addition to lighter lenses, find a shape of sunglasses that fits close to your face to block UV rays and also the winter elements of snow, sleet and rain.

For winter sports like skiing and snowboarding it is particularly important to invest in eye protection that guards against overlapping weather conditions that include sunlight and light reflection off of the snow. When choosing ski and snow goggles, make sure that they are distortion- and glare-free. Try on many pairs before you buy them, first testing them out in natural sunlight. Also, choose the right tint for your sport: a low visible light transmission (VLT) for sunny days on the slopes; a higher VLT for better vision in low-light days. Yellow, gold and amber tints help you to see the bumps on the slopes, while dark copper, brown and gray tints will help you see contrasts in colors.

Are you tired of dealing with prescription glasses and contact lenses on top of your sunglasses and sports eyewear? Want to have clear vision without the hassle? Find out more about LASIK surgery by calling Dr. Joseph Leong-Sit at Eye Q Premium Laser to schedule a consultation.