Sunglasses are for the sun. However, that is not the same thing as saying sunglasses are for the summer. Skiing is all you need to think of to realize that sunglasses are incredibly useful – sometimes even necessary – in winter. If winter brings snow, then that is a lot of shiny white surfaces which can reflect very bright light. Snow blindness is a condition that results from overexposure to the specific type of light which is reflected from ice and snow. Sunglasses are the only way to avoid this hazard, which can be downright perilous.
But the use for sunglasses in winter goes far beyond this. What is most damaging about direct exposure to sunlight is, in fact, nothing to do with the heat – it is the UV rays. And sunglasses help to reduce the UV rays entering your eyes to a safe level. Olympic Eyewear, a wholesale sunglasses distributor, say that there are even types of sunglasses especially suited to the different wavelengths of light that are more commonly found at this time of year. Make no mistake, sunglasses are for winter too.
What Makes for Good Winter Sunglasses?
There is no single answer to this question and, indeed, the sunglasses you use in summer will still offer UV protection during the winter months. Nevertheless, there are also special sunglasses designed for both winter driving and winter sports. Accordingly, it is wise to stock up on sunglasses both for the sunny days and for crisp, bright winter ones.
For winter sports, in particular, sunglasses are particularly important. These glasses not only need to provide all the qualities mentioned above, but they also need to be especially durable, able to cling to the face during vigorous activity, and all while maintaining an acceptable level of comfort.
Further Reasons to Wear Sunglasses in Winter
This, at any rate, should be enough to convince of the necessity of sunglasses in winter. In one way, it’s odd that more people are not aware of this necessity. Just look around on the slopes or on bright winter days and you’re bound to see plenty of people sporting sunglasses in all sorts of different styles!
Here follows some further reasons why this is so:
Good Sunglasses Prevent Eye Conditions
The many different diseases and conditions that can affect the eyes don’t go away in winter and, for those concerned about this, sunglasses still offer top protection. Things like cataracts, macular degeneration, pinguecula, and pterygia are all as much of a risk in winter as they are in summer. Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world – and they don’t care what time of year it is.
UV Rays (Can Be) Intensified During Winter
Indeed, this is the case. The sun tends to sit lower in the sky during winter months, which means much more opportunity for a double exposure of UV as the angle means sunlight more often reflects off reflective surfaces. Moreover, if it is icy and snowy, there are a great deal more of those too.
Roads Are More Perilous
This is a fairly simple point. With things like black ice, poor visibility, and many reflective surfaces making driving more perilous in the winter time, you don’t want to compromise your driving safety by not having the proper eye protection.
Winter Fashion Includes Sunglasses
We will end on a positive note. With winter comes winter fashion, with many people appreciating this time of year as an excuse tosimply wear more striking clothing. And sunglasses are very often a part of these get ups.
The sun is there all year round – sunglasses should be too.
