Why You Should Wear Sunglasses in Winter
Sunglasses aren’t just for summer! Here are the top 5 reasons you should wear sunglasses during winter months
We all know the benefits of wearing sunglasses in the summer. When we’re heading off to the beach, we check to make sure we have our towel, sunscreen and sunglasses packed and ready to go. However, many of us leave our sunglasses behind when heading out the door for winter activities. While winter skies may be gray, the sun still emits potentially damaging light rays and reflects off snow and ice, often causing blinding glare. At Visionworks, we want to make sure you protect your eyes year-round—not just during the summer. Our team reveals the five reasons why you should wear sunglasses in winter—and the best type of sunglasses to buy.
5 Reasons to Wear Sunglasses in the Winter
The winter months may bring extreme weather conditions, including intense light glare reflected off snow and ice. Here are five reasons to winterize your eyes and protect yourself from glare and damaging UVA/UVB rays.
The Winter Sun is Intense
It’s easy to remember your sunglasses on a sunny summer afternoon, but we tend to forget them on cloudy and snowy days. However, UVA/UVB rays still pose a threat even when the sun is covered by snow clouds. Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays— even during winter months—can lead to eye diseases like cataracts, macular degeneration and snow blindness. Make sure to protect your eyes with sunglasses designed to shield against UVA/UVB rays.
Snow Reflects UV Rays
There is nothing like playing in a fresh snowfall or skiing down a mountain. However, that pretty, powdery snow poses a risk to your eye health and comfort. Snow reflects UV rays, causing snow glare, which can impede vision and damage your eyes. Whether you are building a snowman or hitting the slopes, make sure to wear UV protection to keep your eyes safe.
Icy Roads Create Glare
Driving during the winter months can be dangerous, especially if you aren’t prepared. Many people plan ahead to wake up early to defrost the car, but few consider their vision when driving through snow and ice. Icy roads can cause glare on the road and make it challenging to see well enough to navigate. Since windshields offer little protection from light rays, it is important to wear sunglasses designed to minimize glare.
Chilly Winds Lead to Teary Eyes
For many people, a cold and dry gust of wind may be enough to make them teary-eyed. If you suffer from watery eyes every time you step outside during the winter, you can benefit from wearing oversized sunglasses to help shield your eyes from the cold. While sunglasses block UVA/UVB rays, they also protect against wind, snow and allergens.
Snow Blindness is a Real Threat
Snow blindness, or photokeratitis, happens when the cornea is damaged by intense UV light, resulting in temporary blurry vision. Over time, snow glare and snow blindness can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration and other vision loss. Prevent snow blindness by wearing a high-quality pair of sunglasses designed to block glare and the sun’s damaging rays.
Which sunglasses are best for winter?
The winter sun not only emits damaging UVA/UVB rays, but also reflects light off snow and ice to create blinding glare, which can cause discomfort and distort vision. So, the best sunglasses for winter must block ultraviolet rays and minimize glare. Luckily, polarized sunglasses are powerful enough to do both!
Polarized lenses block harmful light rays using a chemical coating with a vertical filter. Since most light glare typically reflects off horizontal surfaces, this technology helps reduce glare and light reflection shining directly into the eyes. Polarized sunglasses are more effective than traditional sunglasses at reducing glare because they stop nearly all horizontal light rays from entering the eye. Polarized lenses are beneficial during winter months when more horizontal light is reflected from snowbanks and icy roads.
Top 3 Reasons Why Polarized Sunglasses are Perfect for Winter
The best sunglasses for winter have polarized lenses! Here are the top three reasons that polarized sunglasses are a must-have for the winter months.
Protect from UVA/UVB Rays
While the sun is typically accompanied by clouds during the winter months, UV rays still threaten eye health. The American Academy of Ophthalmology or AAO recommends sunglasses that block at least 99% of harmful UVA/UVB rays. At Visionworks, our polarized lenses come with 100% UVA/UVB protection. So, you can wear your polarized sunglasses with confidence—knowing your eyes are protected.
Reduce Glare and Reflections
The sun’s rays reflect light off any shiny surface and glistening snow is no exception. Polarized sunglasses reduce bright glare and reflections with a coating designed to block the horizontal light rays reflected off icy roads and snowbanks. With glare-reducing sunglasses, you can see more clearly and protect yourself from the risk of snow blindness.
Increase Clarity and Contrast
Cloudy, foggy and snowy winter days reduce your field of vision and make it challenging to see fine details. Polarized sunglasses help improve vision clarity and color contrast, making it easier to see objects more clearly. Increased vision clarity is great whether you are driving through a winter storm or putting the finishing touches on your snowman.
How to Get Polarized Sunglasses Before Winter’s First Snowfall
Protect your eyes from damaging UV rays and glare this winter. Here are the four steps to take to find the perfect pair of polarized sunglasses from Visionworks.
Schedule an Eye Exam
If it’s been over a year since your last eye exam, schedule an appointment with a Visionworks doctor. Your eye doctor will check your overall eye health and write you a prescription for vision-correcting sunglasses.
Discover Polarized Lens Options
Learn more about the polarized lens options from Visionworks. Polarized lenses are available in a range of colors and finishes.
Pick the Perfect Frames
Shop for the perfect pair of frames. At Visionworks, we have hundreds of choices, so you can find the perfect glasses to fit your style. Our store associates love to help customers find just the right pair to make your style sing!
Use Your Vision Benefits
Did you know you can use your vision benefits on a new pair of sunglasses? Review your plan and use your vision benefits before they expire at the end of the year on new prescription sunglasses. If you don’t use them, you lose them!
Information received through Visionworks® content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your eye doctor, physician, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
Claims regarding blue light efficiency are supported by manufacturer-provided test results.
