Not all sunglasses protect the eyes!

Poor quality sunglasses can increase the risk of cataracts!

While the use of sunglasses increases with the summer season, experts warn consumers not to make choices based only on appearance and brand preference.

Noting that sunglasses without UV protection can harm the eyes instead of protecting them, Dr. from the Opticianry Program. Naz Esin Mayor Özdemir warned that choosing the wrong product could pose serious risks to eye health. Dr. Özdemir stated that long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays may increase the risk of cataracts, corneal damage and macular degeneration, and added: "Sunglasses are not an aesthetic choice, but a necessity to protect eye health." said.

Dr. from Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (SHMYO) Opticianry Program. Lecturer Member Naz Esin President Özdemir evaluated the issue of sunglasses selection on the occasion of June 27 World Sunglasses Day.

The harmful rays of the sun threaten eye health

Dr. stated that the use of sunglasses increases with the summer months. Lecturer Member Naz Esin President Özdemir said, "However, many people see sunglasses only as a fashion accessory. However, sunglasses are an important health item that protects the eyes from the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. UV rays from the sun affect not only our skin but also our eyes. Exposure to UV rays unprotected for a long time may increase the risk of developing serious health problems such as cataracts, corneal damage, eye surface diseases and macular degeneration. Therefore, the use of sunglasses is an aesthetic choice." "It is a necessity to protect eye health." said.

What should be considered when buying sunglasses?

Describing the things to be considered when buying sunglasses, Dr. Özdemir said, "The first and most important feature that consumers should pay attention to is that the glasses have UV protection. Just because the glass is dark does not mean that it provides protection on its own. It is not important how dark a sunglass is, but how much it blocks UV rays. Therefore, the product to be purchased must have UV400 protection feature. The UV400 phrase indicates that the glasses can block most of the UVA and UVB rays up to 400 nanometers. In addition, the CE mark on the product and It is important that it complies with the EN ISO 12312-1 standard, which is valid for sunglasses. This standard determines the safety and performance criteria of sunglasses.” He said.

Dark glasses do not always provide more protection

One of the most common mistakes in society is to think that dark glasses protect the eyes better, said Dr. Lecturer Member Naz Esin President Özdemir continued as follows:

"However, dark glasses without a UV filter can be more harmful in some cases than not using glasses at all. Due to the dark glass, the pupil enlarges and more light enters the eye. If the glass does not have sufficient UV protection, the person may be exposed to more harmful rays while thinking that it protects his eyes. Therefore, when choosing sunglasses, one should focus not only on the darkness of the color of the glass, but also on its UV protection feature."

It is correct to use the same sunglasses in every season. not

Stating that seasonal conditions should also be taken into consideration when choosing sunglasses, Dr. Özdemir said that glasses are classified from category 0 to category 4 according to their light transmittance and said, "While category 0 and 1 glasses are used in low light conditions, category 2 glasses are the most suitable options for daily use in medium light conditions and category 3 glasses in intense sunlight. Category 4 glasses are designed for high mountainous regions, areas with intense snow reflections and environments exposed to very strong sunlight."

Different glass categories may be needed in different geographical regions

Dr. Lecturer Member Naz Esin President Özdemir stated that category 2 and category 3 lenses are most commonly preferred in daily use, and continued as follows:It is not recommended to drive with Category 4 windows. For this reason, it is not always the right choice to have the same lens category as the sunglasses used in March in Istanbul and the sunglasses used in July. Using a single pair of sunglasses in all seasons may not provide sufficient visual comfort and protection most of the time. In fact, using glasses that are darker than necessary during periods when sunlight is less may negatively affect visual performance by reducing the amount of light reaching the eye. Similarly, different glass categories may be needed in different geographical regions during the same season. For example, in cities with different climate characteristics such as Istanbul and Trabzon in July, the glass categories that will provide optimum visual comfort and protection may differ. In short, just as it is not possible to spend four seasons with a single pair of shoes, it is not possible to provide the same visual comfort and protection in all seasons with a single pair of sunglasses.”

Do not drive with category 4 glasses

Dr. Özdemir stated that category 4 glasses can block approximately 95 percent of visible light and added, “Since category 4 glasses can block approximately 95 percent of visible light, they are preferred while driving.” should not be done. "These glasses can negatively affect the driver's vision and pose a risk to traffic safety." said.

Large-framed glasses can provide more effective protection

Dr. stated that not only the glass quality but also the frame structure is important when choosing sunglasses. Lecturer Member Naz Esin President Özdemir said, “The glasses should be suitable for the facial structure, fit comfortably on the nose and cover the eye area as much as possible. Large-framed glasses reduce the sun's rays reaching the eye from the top, bottom and sides. Especially glasses with a curved design can provide additional protection against rays coming from the sides. Therefore, when choosing sunglasses, attention should be paid not only to their appearance, but also to what extent they protect the eye area.” He said.

Sunglasses should be purchased from reliable sales points

Reminding that sunglasses can be sold at many different points, from markets to websites, Dr. Özdemir said, “Sunglasses are not considered within the scope of medical devices today, but are in the protective product category. For this reason, it can be sold in markets, gas stations, textile stores, websites and even mobile sales points. However, it is not right to buy a product that directly affects eye health based only on its appearance or price. Optician establishments are regularly inspected by Provincial Health Directorates and relevant public institutions. However, it is not possible to verify the UV protection properties of sunglasses sold at different sales points. For this reason, it is of great importance for consumers to choose reliable sales points when purchasing sunglasses and to question the technical features of the product.” He stated.

Poor quality sunglasses can cause serious health problems

Dr. pointed out that long-term use of sunglasses that do not have sufficient UV protection carries significant risks. Özdemir said, “Long-term use of sunglasses that do not have sufficient UV protection; It may cause an increased risk of cataract development, corneal damage, irritation and sensitivity on the surface of the eye, damage to the macular area and deterioration in vision quality. "Especially children, individuals working outdoors and people exposed to the sun for a long time are among the groups at risk." said.

Children's eyes should be protected more

Dr. emphasized that children's eye structures are more sensitive to UV rays than adults. Özdemir said, “Because the eye lens of children is more permeable, harmful UV rays can reach the deeper structures of the eye. Therefore, the use of sunglasses in children should not be neglected. "UV400 protection, CE marking, use of break-resistant materials and suitability for facial structure should be taken into consideration when choosing sunglasses for children." He said.

Sunglasses are much more than a fashion product

Noting that sunglasses are much more than a fashion product, they are an important aid that protects eye health. LecturerMember Naz Esin President Özdemir said, "Consumers should make choices not only based on price, brand or appearance, but also on UV protection, compliance with standards and the reliability of the point of sale they purchase from. It should not be forgotten that a correctly selected sunglasses not only provides a more comfortable vision, but also contributes significantly to the protection of eye health." He concluded his words by saying: