Standard sunglasses Life is not possible without sunlight, but long-term exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet (UV) rays, has an adverse effect on vision and can even lead to low vision. Unfortunately, many people consider sunglasses to be just a means to beautify their appearance, while sunglasses play an important role in maintaining overall eye health in addition to beauty. To reduce the adverse effects of ultraviolet rays, it is necessary to use standard sunglasses as eye protection. Before buying sunglasses, be sure to see an eye doctor so that he can prescribe the best sunglasses according to your personal needs and lifestyle. Features of standard sunglasses When buying sunglasses, you should not only pay attention to beauty factors, but your choice should be based on scientific criteria. So, in your choice, in addition to paying attention to the appearance of sunglasses, pay attention to the features that are necessary to protect the eyes. The most important features of a standard sunglasses are: - ### Protection against UV rays: One of the most important features of standard sunglasses is to protect the eyes from UV rays. Standard sunglasses should be labeled UV400 or UV100% to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays and provide adequate vision. - ### Lens color: It is completely wrong to think that the darker the color of the lens, the better it protects the eyes. Standard eyeglass lenses are often brown or gray in color. Each of the eyeglass lens colors are suitable for filtering different light spectrums. For example, gray lenses are suitable for sunny days and bright conditions and reduce the intensity of light. Brown lenses are also suitable for sunny and partly cloudy conditions and create more contrast and image depth. Yellow and orange lenses are also a good choice for low light conditions and cloudy environments. - ### Lens material: The lens material of sunglasses plays an important role in the quality of vision as well as eye protection. The lens should be light, anti-scratch and impact-resistant. - ### Frame shape: The shape and size of the frame should be designed in such a way that it fits the size of the face, covers the entire eye and prevents UV rays from entering the eye and its surroundings. Also, the nose pad should be placed on the face without pressure and easily. - ### Frame material: The frame material must have sufficient strength and high flexibility. Due to the sensitivity of some people's skin, it is better to choose a type that is not allergenic and at the same time is so light that it does not cause fatigue and discomfort in long-term use. - ### Being polarized: After hitting smooth surfaces such as water, asphalt and snow, sunlight is reflected and enters the eye and disrupts vision. By filtering the light reflected from these surfaces, polarized glasses prevent the glare of the sun from entering the eyes and help the clarity of vision. The importance of using standard sunglasses The ultraviolet light of the sun causes serious damage to the eyes over time. Correct and continuous use of standard sunglasses can prevent these eye injuries and improve vision. The most important benefits of using standard sunglasses are: - ### Protection of the skin around the eyes: The skin around the eyes is very sensitive and becomes wrinkled when exposed to direct sunlight. Using sunglasses, in addition to protecting the eyes, prevents premature aging and the occurrence of skin cancer around the eyes, especially in areas where the intensity of sunlight is high. - ### Prevention of dry eyes: Sunglasses can protect the eyes from dust and other environmental factors and help prevent dry eyes and related problems. - ### Reducing eye fatigue: Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays causes fatigue, heavy feeling in the eyes and even migraine headaches. The filters in the sunglasses filter the sunlight and reduce the intensity of the light entering the eyes and its glare, thus reducing fatigue and pressure on the eyes. - ### Reducing the risk of eye diseases: Sunlight can affect the cornea, lens and retina and cause eye diseases in the long term. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet rays causes the lens to become cloudy and cause cataracts. UV rays can also damage the retina and its central part (the macula) and cause macular degeneration. This complication can lead to reduced central vision and even blindness. In addition, ultraviolet rays affecting the cornea can cause inflammation of the cornea and, in more severe cases, corneal burns. Also, long-term exposure to sunlight, especially ultraviolet rays, is one of the reasons for the formation of **nails** and eye surface tumors. The use of UV and polarized sunglasses prevents the aforementioned damage and maintains eye health. Standard sunglasses detection method There are many ways to tell if sunglasses are standard. The first thing you should pay attention to is to get your sunglasses from reputable stores and check the labels, official markings and the glasses booklet. In the next step, to ensure the standard and to accurately measure the protection level of your sunglasses against ultraviolet rays, you can visit an optometrist or ophthalmologist to measure the protection level of the lens of the glasses against ultraviolet rays using a device called a UV meter. You can also do this test with a mobile phone. In this way, place the lens of the glasses in front of the bright mobile screen, so that the inner part of the lens faces the mobile screen. Then turn the mobile phone 90 degrees. If the color and brightness of the seen image changes and becomes darker, the glasses are standard, but if the color and brightness do not change, the glasses are not standard. **Read more: All about cataracts** **Conclusion** Long-term exposure to UV rays can cause diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration and affect vision. Therefore, using standard sunglasses reduces the possibility of eye injuries. In choosing standard sunglasses, in addition to the appearance, you should pay attention to features such as UV400 filter, polarization, lens material and color, so that you can choose the most suitable sunglasses to protect your eyes and ensure the health of your vision system.