You likely only associate sunglasses with the beach, summer, and road trips. However, they can provide protection even in winter. Sounds crazy, right? After all, winter does not have as much sunshine as summer or any other season. So, why should you wear sunglasses in winter?

Benefits of Sunglasses

The conventional benefit of sunglasses is that they protect your eyes from the general glare of the sun. They keep out harmful UV rays that can affect your eyes and the skin around your eyes. Thus, it is not crazy to think that you do not need them in winter. The sun is not as severe. Think again! Here are four reasons you should wear sunglasses this season.

Reducing Glare

You may not receive much glare from the sun, but you will get blinding light from the snow. The light it reflects can cause impaired vision, eyestrain, and other complications. When you are outside for long periods without sunglasses, you can experience snow blindness or photokeratitis. The condition is comparable to sunburn but in your eyes!

Thus, safeguard your eyes with sunglasses. Otherwise, you may go temporarily blind. It is fascinating to stare at a winter wonderland. But as you do, take the proper precaution.

Improves Sight

When the sun is up in winter, it causes you to squint to have clear vision. The effort put into doing this can result in teary eyes and headaches. Sunglasses remove the overwhelming effects of the winter sun and allow you to see without irritation.

They provide clear vision for drivers, skiers, hikers, and runners. It makes accomplishing their activities easy. They also do not lose eye moisture in the form of tears, which can lead to dry eyes. Visual clarity protects you from accidents and inconveniencing incidents.

Fend Off Eye Diseases

Well-made sunglasses will not only cover your eyes and keep you comfortable but also prevent the early onset of age-related eye diseases. They will protect your eyes against macular degeneration and cataracts. Apart from age-related eye conditions, they also give protection against other eye diseases and conditions. These include dry eye, pterygia, and pinguecula.

These eye diseases and conditions can lead to blindness. Diseases like cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. The conditions affect your natural eye lens, creating the need for replacement. For that, you would need surgery to remove your lens and replace it with an artificial one. Keep your sunglasses on in winter to keep your eyes healthy.

UV Protection

UV rays are part of the cause of early onset age-related eye diseases. Although the sun sits lower in the sky, the UV rays are still intense. Sometimes, the cold months may have a high risk of exposure to the rays. They may bounce off icy and wet surroundings, doubling your exposure. Ensure that your sunglasses provide at least 99 percent protection from UV rays. Wear wraparound sunglasses if possible. They will give you more protection from blinding light.

For more information on wearing sunglasses in winter, call Bluebonnet Eye Care at (210) 696-6500 to reach our San Antonio, Texas office.