Summer is here, and while it’s the perfect time to soak up some sunshine, it’s also crucial to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. Here at Davis EyeCare – your Oak Lawn and Orland Park eye doctor – we want to ensure you and your family enjoy the days ahead while maintaining optimal eye health. Let’s explore how to prevent sun damage to eyes with the help of sunglasses.

Understanding UV rays and eye health

The sun produces ultraviolet (UV) rays that can be harmful to both your skin and eyes. While we often remember to put on sunscreen, we sometimes forget that our eyes need protection, too.

Did you know there are 3 types of UV rays?

1. UVA: These rays penetrate deep into the skin and all the way to the back of the eyes, leading to long-term damage like cataracts and macular degeneration.
2. UVB: These rays can cause short-term acute damage, such as sunburns and reach the surface of the eye to cause photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye).
3. UVC: Fortunately, these rays are absorbed by the ozone layer and don’t reach the Earth’s surface.

Most of your lifetime UV exposure occurs before the age of 18, so it’s crucial to start protecting your kids’ eyes early.

The best solution – sunglasses

If you’re wondering how to protect your eyes from UV rays, sunglasses are your best option. Not all sunglasses are made equal, so when selecting the perfect pair, always check the UV index for sunglasses to ensure they provide maximum protection against harmful rays.

All sunglasses at our locations provide 100% protection from UV. Beware of counterfeit sunglasses from unauthorized sellers. With dark lenses but no UV filter, these can cause your pupils to dilate and let in even more damaging rays.

Some sunglasses are also designed with lens treatments to enhance comfort and protection. For example, polarized lenses reduce horizontal glare from reflective surfaces like water that cause you to squint and obstruct your vision, making them ideal for summer activities such as fishing and boating.

They enhance visual clarity, reduce eye strain, and improve color contrast, ensuring you see the world comfortably in sharper, more vibrant detail.

For maximum protection, opt for wraparound sunglasses that cover your eyes from all angles. For a complete sun defense strategy, pair your shades with a wide-brimmed hat and, of course, sunscreen.

Our top recommendation: Maui Jim

Maui Jim sunglasses take prevention from sun damage to eyes to another level. The brand has earned the Skin Cancer Foundation Seal of Recommendation as an effective UV filter, blocking 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays. 

With award-winning Polarized Plus2 lens technology, Maui Jim sunglasses change the way you see the environment around you, bringing vivid colors, improved clarity, and crisp details. The patented formula uses three rare Earth elements to enhance red, green and blue light waves, increasing and balancing the saturation of colors we see.

Just as glare in front of you can affect your vision, glare from behind can cause eye strain. Maui Jim sunglasses feature an anti-reflective treatment that blocks reflected light and glare from behind you helping to reduce strain.

Get in touch

Ready to upgrade your UV protection? Visit your eye doctor in Oak Lawn or our Orland Park eye doctor office to explore our extensive Maui Jim sunglasses collection. Our friendly and knowledgeable team is here to help you find your ideal shades so you can see the difference for yourself and keep your eyes safe and stylish all summer.