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After my surgery last week, the surgeon and I had a talk about protecting my eyes. Turns out that I did not know anything about sunglasses. It is time to learn. She told me to get UV protection. Look for labels that say UV protection. UV rays are what damaged my eyes and could damage yours. Make sure you get sunglasses that say they are UV protection of at least 98%.
Polarized lenses help you see clearer, but do not necessarily protect your eyes from the UV rays. They are not mutually exclusive. You can get polarized lenses that offer adequate UV protection. Check the label.
The color of the lenses do not make any difference. Don't fall for the misconception that the darker the lens, the better the protection. The same goes for mirrored lenses. Just because they look cool, doesn't make them more protective. Wrap around glasses are preferred. The less sunlight that get to your eyes the better. Again though, check the label for UV protection.
One thing I learned is that people who take diuretics are more susceptible to UV damage. My high blood pressure medication is a diuretic. Don't think that you are off the hook because you don't take high blood pressure medication. Coffee is a diuretic. Cucumbers are a great diuretic. Onions, garlic, and many juicy fruits like grapes and blueberries are also diuretics. These are great sources of nutrition and are naturally heart healthy foods. They should be included in your diet. Be aware though that they can make your eyes more susceptible to UV rays.
Eat the right foods and protect your eyes. My right eye is recovering nicely after the surgery. Eventually my left eye will need the same surgery. It isn't a picnic though. It feels like someone took piece of 60 grit sandpaper to my eye. It still looks pretty ugly and bloody. When I wake up in the morning I have to pry my eye open. It isn't a great thing, but I am lucky. We were able to take care of mine.
UV protective sunglasses are not necessarily more expensive that other sunglasses. I found on line from a place that I have shopped at before. If you buy at least 10 pairs they are only about $4 a pair- for the rubberized wrap around ones. Knowing how often I scratch and or lose sunglasses – I think that is what I am going to do. Either way – I am going to protect my vision.