Common Sunglasses Myths Debunked

By Your Health Magazine

When it comes to sunglasses, we, as consumers, get fed a lot of information about them. Usually, this centres around what function they should perform and what happens if you don’t wear them.

However, as the former often comes from manufacturers eager to make a sale and the latter from media outlets producing headlines for clickbait, it can be difficult to know what to believe.

For instance, we all know that wearing a good quality pair of sunglasses with 100% UV protection is a good way to prevent the risk of eye cancer, macular degeneration, and cataracts, which you might otherwise get from too much exposure to the sun.

But beyond that, how can you separate what is factually correct from the marketing spin and sensationalised scaremongering?

In this post, we’ve taken the opportunity to debunk seven common myths about sunglasses.

Regardless of whether you are looking for Australian-made Oroton glasses or a brand from overseas, next time you are out shopping for a new pair, you should bear these truth bombs in mind.

1. All sunglasses protect your eyes

While you would like to think so, unfortunately, not all sunglasses are made equally. Some offer you more protection than others against the harmful rays of the sun, while certain types can even put your eyes at higher risk of developing certain Ophthalmic conditions if worn over a prolonged period of time.

Primarily, this is because some types of sunglasses (usually cheaply made ones) make things appear darker, which tends to open up your pupils more.

Sadly, this is not necessarily a good thing because it contravenes the natural defensive measures of your eyes to reduce the amount of light that enters them.

For this reason, it is vital to check the protection category of your pair of sunglasses – categories 2 and 3 provide very good UV protection.

2. You Only Need to Wear Sunglasses on Sunny Days

Some people have the common misconception that you only need to wear sunglasses when it’s bright and sunny.

However, as the sun’s harmful UV rays can penetrate cloud cover, and therefore pose a risk to your eyes even on overcast days, it is important to wear them all year round.

3. It is Always Better to Buy More Expensive Sunglasses

When it comes to purchasing any type of product, the phrase ‘you get what you pay for’ is often banded about. However, this does not always ring true for sunglasses.

It is important to understand that a higher price is not always a guarantee of quality, and what is more important to look for is lens quality and protection from the sun.

Whenever you are looking to buy a new pair of sunglasses, make sure to establish how the sunglasses were made, what materials were used, and what level of UV protection and additional lens features they offer.

4. Polarised Lenses are Better

This is a common misconception many people have, and while it is not wholly untrue, it only applies to lenses that are of prescription optical quality and feature a good polarising filter.

Other types of polarised lenses won’t automatically provide you with a good level of protection. Some won’t protect you at all and may cause more damage than good.

These types of sunglasses are often found at service stations and cheap discount variety stores.

5. Sunglasses Aren’t Necessary When Wearing a Hat

This technically might not be a myth, per se. However, wearing a hat and sunglasses is a much better way to deal with the threat of UV rays than if you weren’t, or if you didn’t have one or other.

As the sun’s UV rays can reflect off surfaces, they can still reach your eyes from various angles, which can intensify their exposure. While a hat offers shade and sunglasses provide full coverage separately, together, they create a formidable defence against UV penetration and the reduction of glare.

6. Darker Lenses Provide Better Protection

You might read that darker lenses will protect your eyes better overall than lighter lenses. But this is not necessarily true.

While sunglasses with dark lenses might seem more protective, it is the lens material and UV coatings that truly matter.

In fact, the darkness of the lens tint has very little to do with how much UV protection it provides. Moreover, lighter-tinted lenses can provide just as much protection as darker ones and, in some cases, even more.

7. Children Don’t Need Sunglasses

This is a very bad myth that we should all be aware of because children’s eyes are actually more sensitive to UV light than adults, which is why it is important for them to wear sunglasses whenever they go outdoors.

If your child is a bit funny about wearing sunglasses, there are several styles that combine fun designs with a strong defence against the sun’s damaging effects, which they are sure to love.