Protecting Your Eyes Against Winter UV Exposure
It's official! Winter is here, which means in some places stinging winds and cold rains and sometimes snow aren't far behind. You would never even think of leaving the house without a jacket in overcast weather, however surprisingly, far too many people don't think to take their sunglasses. Although many of us don't think about the glaring sun when we are venturing out to the freezing cold, the sun's rays are still a present danger in colder climates, and sometimes can be even more powerful.
They don't call it a "winter wonderland" for no reason. Particularly after a heavy snow fall, the blanket of snow covering the ground, trees and everything else in sight, actually intensifies the reflection of the sun. In fact, in many cases it can downright hurt your eyes when you first leave the house after a heavy snowfall. The UV sunlight that we are all so vigilant in avoiding in the heat of the summer may really be more dangerous in the winter because it bounces off the snow or ice, giving you a double dose of exposure. This is why a pair of sunglasses is a crucial part of your winter wardrobe.
Even though you want to pick a style you look good in, the most important consideration when choosing sunglasses is checking that they will properly protect your eyes. Be sure they are 100% UV blocking by checking for confirmation that they block all light up to 400 nanometers - UV400. Don't worry, proper protection for your eyes isn't necessarily expensive. Dozens of affordable options exist that still provide complete ultraviolet coverage.
Another important consideration in picking the right sun wear is the size of the lenses. You want to make sure your glasses cover as much of the area around your eyes as possible. The larger the surface area covered by your sunglasses, the less harmful radiation will be able to enter. Wrap around frames will also stop radiation from entering through the periphery.
Just as most people are aware that sunglasses are essential to wear on the water because the water intensifies the sun's rays, this also applies to wintery water as well. Therefore it is just as important to wear sunglasses when out in the snow. Further UV radiation is more powerful at greater altitudes such as mountain ski slopes.
This wintertime, stay warm and stay protected! Make your sunglasses a fixed part of your routine.
