Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania
Sunglasses are important for the maintenance of eye health and, of course, are a fashion statement! These glasses can diminish the intensity of both visible and invisible light (which includes the potentially damaging ultraviolet light).
High-intensity visible light (such as staring directly at the sun) damages the retina, causing a disease called solar retinopathy. In laboratory mice, bright light, especially blue, causes retinal damage. Therefore, it is likely that repeated exposure to bright visible light is damaging to the retina and may be a risk factor for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and other retinal diseases. A few studies suggest this, but it is difficult to prove as it is impossible to measure light exposure over a lifetime. The prudent step is to wear sunglasses when out in bright light.
Sunglasses can also block ultraviolet (UV) light that is invisible to humans. Two types of UV light can penetrate the atmosphere and reach the eye: UVB and UVA. UVB can reach the surface of the eye, the cornea and conjunctiva (a thin membrane that covers the white part of the eyeball and the inner surface of the eyelid), but does not penetrate further. It may contribute to the formation of pterygium, a skin-like growth over the cornea that may require surgical removal if it blocks vision. UVA can penetrate the cornea and reach the lens, where it is likely to contribute to cataract formation. Little UVA light can reach the retina, so it is less likely to contribute to AMD.
In order to protect against UV light, purchase sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB. Wrap-around sunglasses will help block light coming from any angle. A hat is also helpful in this regard.
Since blue light seems to be particularly harmful (it carries the most energy of all the visible wavelengths), choose a lens color that blocks a lot of blue. Amber or gray tint will work well. Do not choose lenses that transmit blue light. You can see what color light a lens will let through by holding the glasses up to a light and looking at the color of the light coming through the side that would face your eyes. Lenses may reflect blue light on the side of the lens facing away from your eyes and appear blue to an observer, but this is fine as long as they do not transmit the blue light. If you are unsure if a pair of sunglasses is providing maximum safety, your eye doctor or optician can help you.
For people having cataract surgery, most of the implanting lenses available now will block UV light (definitely recommended), and some are tinted yellow to block blue light (possibly helpful).
Sunglass tinting can be done in various colors and intensities. Again, choose amber or gray. Gray is better for driving, as it may be more difficult to see traffic light colors with amber tinting. When purchasing custom sunglasses, for example, with a built-in prescription, you should request fairly strong tinting to block a lot of light. The only caveat is that you will need to take the glasses off immediately upon coming inside and maybe even outside on a cloudy day in order to see obstacles well rather than tripping over them.
Polarization of lenses blocks the light waves that are oriented in a certain direction, reducing the total amount of light transmitted and reducing glare. Polarized lenses are especially useful for outdoor sports and driving. Glasses can be ordered that are both polarized and tinted for use in especially bright situations such as during boating, at the beach, or a sunny day with snow on the ground reflecting the light.
Transition lenses are very good for times when you’re not carrying your sunglasses and need to go outside. They are clear when you are inside but become darker when exposed to UV light outside. However, they don’t usually get as dark as standard sunglasses. Also, it can take several minutes for them to become clear again after you come back inside. They don’t become dark in a car since the windshield blocks the ultraviolet light, so you will need a separate pair of sunglasses for driving.
For those wonderful moments when you are reading on the beach, you can wear bifocal or progressive lens sunglasses. Bifocal sunglasses are available in some drugstores or can be custom-made at optical shops.
Polycarbonate lenses are made of very strong plastic that is unlikely to break on impact and can offer good protection for sports. Sunglasses with snug-fitting earpieces are also helpful when engaging in athletic activities.
Research indicates that too much exposure to sunlight can cause or accelerate the progress of age-related macular degeneration. This means that patients who already have AMD, or who are at risk, should wear sunglasses in bright light, especially sunglasses with UV and blue light-filtering abilities. Patients already wearing glasses may want to consider either purchasing a UV filtering clip-on, or a separate pair of UV-protected sunglasses. Because UV damage is cumulative over one's lifetime, children should be encouraged to wear UV protective sunglasses beginning at infancy whenever they are out in the sun.
Joshua Dunaief, MD, received his BA magna cum laude in Biology from Harvard (1987), MD/PhD from Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons (1996), completed ophthalmology residency at the Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins in 2000, and medical retina fellowship at Scheie Eye Institute, University of Pennsylvania in 2004.
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