The summer sun is beautiful, but it’s also the source of UV rays that can damage your eyes and vision. For this reason, you likely wear sunscreen when you go out – but what do you do to protect your eyes and the skin around them? Wearing sunglasses is the first thing that comes to mind, but this doesn’t always offer adequate protection. Let’s examine ways you can protect your eyes by visiting our eye care specialist at Yakima Vision Center.

Do All Sunglasses Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays?

It turns out that only some sunglasses have this essential protection. Often, off-the-shelf, non-prescription sunglasses do not offer it. Instead, they use the older technology, which only blocks visible light. This can cause your pupils to dilate and thereby let in even more UV rays than wearing nothing at all!

The solution for this is to always use high-quality sunglasses. Those from our optical shop all include UV-blocking capabilities. As your eye doctors, we are not going to sell you something that could bring harm to your eyes.

Do You Have to Wear Sunglasses to Block UV Light?

Surprisingly, you do not. It’s a little-known fact, but there are UV-blocking coatings that work with clear eyeglass lenses. These coatings are clear or nearly so, and they help protect your eyes without the need to wear obvious “shades.” Ask the optical department for them the next time you go to the optometry office.

Do You Have to Have a Prescription to Get Eyeglasses or Sunglasses from an Optometrist’s Office?

You only need a prescription if you need to have vision correction in your lenses. Many people use prescription-free sunglasses in order to get their protective benefits. For those who do require vision correction, prescription sunglasses are the perfect solution to cover all of the bases.

Get Eye Protection at Yakima Vision Center

To get an eye exam from one of our optometrists, or to get UV-blocking glasses of any kind, give us a call at Yakima Vision Center. We’ll be glad to help you protect your eyes from the summer sun.