Unbelievably, approximately 20% of us don’t believe our eyes are at risk from sun exposure. However, according to a report by Think About Your Eyes, it only takes 15 minutes of sunshine during the UK summertime to exceed the safe UV exposure limit for an eight-hour day.

Long-term overexposure to UV rays can prematurely age your eyes, which can lead to cataracts and other debilitating eye conditions. So, with that thought in mind, we’ve produced this overview of what you need to look for in sunglasses to help protect your eyes during different types of outdoor activity.

Everyday Use

Even in a country like the UK, where the average number of sunlight hours per year is relatively low, being outside will put your eyes at risk to dangerous levels of UV exposure. Even on an overcast day, UV rays can still penetrate clouds and damage your eyes.

Consequently, having a pair of sunglasses to hand that combine comfort with functionality is highly recommended. For everyday use, look for sunglasses with dark, high contrast lenses, as these are ideal for cutting through glare and reducing eyestrain in mild conditions.

For Your Holiday

If you’re holidaying in a hot and sunny country, it is essential to take sunglasses that provide 100% protection from both UVA and UVB light and include the European CE mark that indicates the sunglasses offer adequate sun protection.

What you might not realise is that, if you are holidaying in a cold country or going skiing, it is equally as important to pack sunglasses with excellent UV protection. This is because, when light and UV radiation reflects off snow, it has the potential to cause even greater damage to our eyes.

For Playing Sports

If you enjoy spending hours on the field of play, investing in a pair of top quality wraparound sports sunglasses to protect your eyes should be a priority.

Wraparound frames are specially designed to stay on your head – no matter what. Plus, they provide a wider field of vision than standard shades, ensuring the wearer experiences no blind spots and is able to maximise their performance.

At Discounted Sunglasses, we stock a choice of top quality sports sunglasses by manufacturers such as Oakley and Nike. These sunglasses typically include strong polycarbonate frames and shatterproof lenses, which make them highly resistant to the stress placed upon them when you are playing at the top of your game.

For Children

According to the results of a poll conducted by the College of Optometrists and published by the BBC, three in four parents are risking their children’s eyesight by exposing them to sunlight without the adequate protection. What these parents probably don’t realise, however, is that the eyes of children are more susceptible to UV radiation than those of adults.

UV rays are at their strongest around midday, so, if possible, try to arrange any outdoor activities with children in the morning or late afternoon. No matter what time of the day your little ones are out in the sun, though, wraparound sunglasses that offer 100% UVA and UVB protection are an absolute must.

We stock a wide selection of kids’ designer sunglasses, which offer excellent UV protection and include break-resistant, polarised lenses that provide superb protection from glare. 

For Driving

Varying light conditions, such as low winter sun, make having a pair of sunglasses in the glovebox of your car essential. That being said, it’s important to note that not all types of sunglasses are suited to driving.

Many experienced drivers prefer to wear sunglasses with polarised lenses because they are specially designed to reduce glare, which makes them ideal for reducing light bouncing up from flat road surfaces. Because they help to sharpen your vision, polarised lenses can also help drivers to see in foggy and rainy conditions.

It’s important to note that the sunglasses you choose for driving must have a filter category in the 0-3 range. Note: four is the darkest lens you can buy, and wearing a lens this dark could reduce your visibility to the point where driving becomes unsafe.

 

At Discounted Sunglasses, we stock a wide range of designer sunglasses at some of the cheapest prices around. To read more about how we are able to offer you the choice of so many high quality sunglasses at such low prices, check out our ‘About Us’ page.