When purchasing sunglasses, you may only focus on getting a style that suits your face and preferences. However, while you should feel good in your sunglasses, the real reason to wear them is to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Not all sunglasses are created equal — and just because they’re tinted doesn’t mean they offer true UV protection. Here’s how you can tell if your shades are doing their job.

What is Ultraviolet (UV) Light?

Ultraviolet light comes from the sun, but it’s invisible to the human eye. It’s part of the electromagnetic spectrum and helps the body produce vitamin D, which is important for calcium absorption. However, too much UV exposure can cause sunburn, tanning, skin aging, and skin cancer, so UV protection is essential:

Why UV Protection Matters

Prolonged exposure to UV light can lead to serious eye conditions, such as cataracts (clouding of the lens), macular degeneration (damage to the retina), photokeratitis (a sunburned eye), and even skin cancer around the eyes. It can also damage the lens, cornea, and retina, causing vision impairment or even blindness. Wearing sunglasses with 100% UV protection helps block both UVA and UVB rays, significantly reducing these risks.

Check the Label

The easiest way to tell if your sunglasses offer good UV protection is to look for a label or sticker that says 100% UV protection or UV400, which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, including UVA and UVB. Be wary of vague labels like “blocks harmful rays” or “UV absorbing” without specific details.

Buy From a Reputable Source

Designer labels and brand names don’t automatically guarantee UV protection, but buying from a reputable store or trusted retailer does increase your chances. Avoid unbranded sunglasses or cheap knockoffs unless they’re certified.

If you want to buy them online, read reviews and only buy from reputable sellers. If the listing lacks details about UV protection, it’s better to skip it.

Use a UV Light Tester

Some optometrists or eyewear retailers have a UV light testing machine that can measure the amount of UV radiation the lenses block. If you’re unsure, bring your sunglasses in for a quick test. You can also use a UV flashlight and some UV-sensitive material, such as a dollar. Shine a flashlight through the lens and onto the material. If it doesn’t change or reveal any elements, the lens is blocking UV rays. 

Consider Polarization vs. UV Protection

A popular misconception involves the polarization vs. UV protection. Polarization is designed to reduce glare and improve visual clarity and comfort when viewing reflective surfaces like water or roads. However, polarization doesn’t always include UV protection. Always check for both features if you need them. 

Don’t Rely on Lens Darkness or Tint

Darker lenses don’t equal better UV protection. In fact, dark lenses without UV protection can be worse, because they cause your pupils to dilate, allowing more UV rays to enter your eyes. Always prioritize UV rating over darkness.

Similarly, lens color can affect contrast and visibility, but not UV protection. Always rely on the UV rating, not the shade.

Prescription Sunglasses Need UV Too

If you wear prescription sunglasses, confirm with your optometrist that your lenses include 100% UV protection. Most modern lenses do, but you may want to double-check — especially if you have older lenses.

Replace When Necessary 

Over time, UV coatings may not be as effective, especially if your sunglasses have been scratched or heavily used. If your shades are a few years old, consider getting them retested or replacing them.

Other Considerations 

When outside, you may want to wear a hat, preferably one with a wide brim, as this can help protect your face and eyes from the sun. Use sunscreen, especially on the sensitive skin around your eyes, and stay hydrated to keep your eyes healthy. Finally, stay in the shade when possible and take regular breaks from activities such as swimming and hiking. 

In addition, remember that UV rays remain present year-round — even on cloudy days. Snow, sand, and water all reflect UV light, increasing your exposure. Wear sunglasses daily —  no matter the season, especially if you’re at high altitudes or near reflective surfaces.

Protect Your Eyes with UV-Blocking Sunglasses

Your eyes are incredibly sensitive to sun damage, and UV protection plays an essential role; for this reason, it should not be optional. Make UV protection a non-negotiable feature when buying sunglasses, just like you would with sunscreen for your skin. Your future self and eyes will thank you.

Everybody cries — whether it’s a sad movie, allergies, or a hard day — it’s normal for tears to start flowing. But what happens if you start crying while wearing contacts? Is it dangerous? Do you need to take your contacts out afterwards? Today, we will discuss crying with contacts and whether you need to worry. 

What is the Purpose of Tears?

Tears play an important role in keeping your eyes lubricated. They also protect them from irritants and supply them with the nutrients they need to stay healthy. Tear production benefits everyone, but especially those with contacts. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, your body produces three types of tears:

Basal Tears — These act as a shield to lubricate, nourish, and protect the eyes from dirt and debris. Your eyes produce these tears regularly without you even noticing. 

Reflex Tears — These tears clean off harmful irritants, such as an eyelash or dust particle. Your eyes may also produce these tears if you are exposed to something irritating, such as smoke.

Emotional Tears — If you feel strong emotions, such as joy, sadness, or anger, you may produce emotional tears. 

Tears also contain three layers:

Inner Mucus Layer — This layer holds the tear in your eye. 

Watery Middle Layer — This produces moisture to keep the eye hydrated, repels bacteria, and protects the cornea. 

Outer Oily Layer —  This layer keeps the surface of the tear smooth so you can see through. It also keeps the other layers from evaporating. 

Tears Themselves Aren’t Harmful

Fortunately, tears won’t damage your contacts. In fact, your eyes are naturally covered in a tear film, even if you’re not crying, and contact lenses are designed to sit comfortably in that environment. But crying could introduce more than the usual amount of fluid, which can have some side effects.

Blurry Vision Is Common

As you cry, tears flood the surface of your eyes. Since contacts sit directly on your cornea, those excess tears can create a temporary layer of mucus or reside between your lens and your eye. That’s what causes the blurry or smeared vision many wearers experience when crying. It’s like looking through a wet window — you can see everything, but it’s a bit distorted. 

Your Contacts Might Move Around

When you cry, you blink more and your tears flow faster. This movement and extra moisture can cause your contacts to shift in your eyes — especially if you wear soft contacts. They may also temporarily stick to your eyelids or eyelashes. Their movement will make your vision feel off until they re-center. But don’t worry, your contacts won’t disappear behind your eyeball.  

Risk of Buildup or Discomfort

Tears are more than just water; they contain a mix of water, electrolytes, lipids, proteins, and enzymes (salt and oil). When you cry, all those substances build up on your lenses. If you don’t rinse or clean them properly afterward, you can experience irritation or foggy lenses.

Tears Can Loosen Your Lenses

If you wipe your eyes or dab at your lashes, you risk accidentally nudging a lens out of place or out of your eye entirely, especially if you wear daily disposable lenses. When blotting your tears, make sure to be gentle. 

What Should You Do If You Cry With Contacts?

Blink Gently — This will help your lenses settle back into place. 

Avoid Rubbing — Rubbing your eyes could dislodge your contacts or irritate your eyes. 

Use Contact-Friendly Eye Drops — If your eyes feel dry or irritated after crying, consider using eye drops to help lubricate your eyes again. 

Daily Disposable Lenses — If you wear daily contacts, consider replacing the pair you are wearing as this may be easiest.

Reusable Lenses — After crying, clean your lenses with a solution to ensure they are properly lubricated and free from debris. If your eyes feel irritated, puffy, or still sting, you may want to avoid wearing contacts until your eyes have relaxed. 

If you feel like you are about to have a good crying session, you might want to consider removing your lenses and inserting them again afterward. Additionally, if your eyes are still irritated when it’s been a while since you’ve cried, you may have a bigger issue going on. 

It’s Safe to Cry With Contacts In

You don’t need to worry if you cry while wearing contacts — you and your lenses will survive. You may experience some temporary discomfort or blurry vision, but you just need to take a minute afterwards to clean your lenses, dry your eyes, and maybe give your eyes a break. 

With the recent advancement of technology, children spend more time looking at screens than ever before. From educational videos to entertainment, screens have become an integral part of their daily lives. However, this increased screen time raises concerns about its impact on children’s vision development.

How Screens Affect Children’s Vision

Digital Eye Strain

Prolonged screen use can cause eye muscles to tire, leading to eye discomfort, headaches, blurred vision, and dry eyes. A child may also have a hard time concentrating. If you find your child frequently squinting or rubbing their eyes, they may be suffering from digital eye strain. 

Myopia (Nearsightedness)

Some studies have suggested that excessive screen time, combined with reduced outdoor time, may contribute to the increasing prevalence of myopia in children. If a child already suffers from myopia, excessive screen time could make it worse. 

Reduced Blinking and Dry Eyes

When looking at screens, children tend to blink less frequently, leading to dry and irritated eyes. Blinking spreads tears over the eye’s surface, and this film keeps the eyes clean and nourished, which is needed for optimal eye health.  

Disrupted Sleep Patterns

The blue light emitted from screens can be harmful for the retina and interfere with melatonin production, making it harder for children to fall asleep.  The lens of the eye is expteionally clear in young children, making them more prone to develop problems from blue light exposure. 

Accommodation Spasm

Excessive screen time can cause a child’s eye’s focusing system to lock up, causing blurry vision when looking away from the screen and difficulty refocusing on distant objects.

Ways to Protect Children’s Vision

Follow the 20-20-20 Rule

Encourage children to take a 20-second break every 20 minutes by looking at something 20 feet away. Children may not realize how long they’ve been using a screen, so make sure you encourage breaks when needed. 

Limit Screen Time

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends setting age-appropriate screen time limits. AAP recommends discouraging children 18 months and younger from using screens unless it is to video chat. For children 2-5 years of age, you should limit screen time to an hour a day, ideally ensuring they co-view with a parent or sibling. For children, aged 5-17, limit screen time to two hours a day with exceptions for homework or educational purposes. 

Encourage Outdoor Play

Studies indicate that spending time outdoors can reduce the risk of developing myopia. Children should spend at least one hour a day outside for optimal physical, emotional, and social development. Unstructured play outside should be encouraged. 

Adjust Screen Settings

Reduce screen brightness, increase text size, and use blue light filters to minimize eye strain. When a child is using a screen, it should always be at least 18-24 inches away. If you aren’t sure how to calculate the distance, use the elbow rule: screens and books should be an elbow-to-hand distance away. 

If you use an Apple device, you can turn on the Screen Distance Feature, which will send an alert if a screen is held too close. 

Regular Eye Checkups

Routine eye exams can help detect early signs of vision issues and prevent long-term complications. If you notice your child squinting, tilting their head, holding objects close to their eyes, or eye rubbing, they could have a vision problem.

According to The American Optometric Association, children between 6 and 12 months old should have their first eye exam and children 3 to 5 years old should have their second exam. Yearly checkups should start in the first grade. 

Other Important Considerations

Beyond regulating screens, there are a few other habits to consider when it comes to your child’s eye health:

• Ensure all toys are free from sharp edges and that sharp objects, such as scissors, are out of your child’s reach as they may accidentally injure their eyes. 

• Ensure your child gets enough sleep and eats a healthy diet as both can affect eye health.

• Encourage hand washing, especially before touching eyes, to help prevent the introduction of bacteria and infections. 

• Children should also wear sunglasses outside to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays. 

Understand the Effect of Screens on Your Child’s Vision

While screens are a valuable tool for learning and entertainment, excessive use can negatively impact children’s vision development. By implementing healthy screen habits and encouraging outdoor activities, parents can help safeguard their children’s eye health for the future.

Do you have concerns about your child’s screen time? Consider speaking with an eye care professional for personalized advice.