ARE SUNGLASS READERS RIGHT FOR ME?
Each year as warmer weather approaches, people around the world get excited to start spending more time outdoors. Nights are longer, social events happen more and more often, and the desire to enjoy nearly every waking moment in the sun is high on many people’s priority lists. What isn’t often considered is how all of this time outside can affect one’s eyes, and more often than not, the only instance when this comes into play is when we’re struggling to see something that’s either close to us or too far away.
As we age it’s natural to experience changes in our eyesight, and when it comes to keeping our eyes as healthy as possible, there’s more that’s involved than you might think. Spending time outside requires sun protection, but if we also find that we’re in need of a little extra help reading our favorite magazine or deciphering items on a menu, are we out of luck?
Let’s take a look at the one pair of glasses that can address all of your summertime vision needs, but first, it’s important to have an understanding of how our eyes work, why some people need help seeing up close, and just how harmful the sun’s rays can be if we don’t take proper precautions.>br />
Being able to see clearly requires that all of the various elements of our eyes work together correctly, yet as we age, some of these parts may deteriorate. Here’s a very brief look at what happens when we see something:
There are two types of UV rays that come from the sun, UV-A and UV-B, and both are incredibly powerful. UV-A can impact a part of the retina and lead to a condition called macular degeneration, causing a loss in central vision. UV-B most often affects the cornea and the lens and can lead to premature cataracts, a corneal sunburn, and more. The delicate skin around our eyes is also susceptible to skin cancer if we aren’t careful, so opting for a pair of sunglasses that’s large enough to cover this area is important too.
Wearing sunglasses every time you’re outdoors, even if it’s cloudy out, is the only way to prevent both UV-A and UV-B rays from damaging our eyes. It’s an easy habit to get into, especially if you’ve found a pair that you really love. Sunglasses should be worn when driving, at the pool, and even on the patio of your favorite restaurant while you’re reading the menu.
Imagine sitting by the pool and wanting to enjoy a new book while still being able to keep an eye on your kids. Sunglass readers offer you the ability to see clearly near and far while blocking UV-A and UV-B rays. Spending time outside with friends at a backyard barbeque? Enjoy bifocal sunglasses that temper the intense summer sun while still allowing you to look at your friend’s photos from their recent vacation.
Sunglass readers reduce the need for multiple pairs of glasses as they achieve three different goals in one. Gone are the days of always having to put your readers on your head while you have your sunwear on. No one will have to see you walking around with reading glasses perched precariously on the tip of your nose so that you can look over them and see far away either. With a pair of bifocal sunglasses, you can live a more relaxed life while knowing that you’re doing everything you can to take care of your eyes.
If it sounds like sunglass readers may be the answer to your summertime stress, check out the selection of options from Gamma Ray. Using classic designs with the latest in eyewear technology, you can look stylish while being able to see clearly. From sport styles that allow you to enjoy your favorite activities to fashion-forward silhouettes that will look great by the pool, Gamma Ray has created affordable and comfortable sunglass readers for all.
As we age it’s natural to experience changes in our eyesight, and when it comes to keeping our eyes as healthy as possible, there’s more that’s involved than you might think. Spending time outside requires sun protection, but if we also find that we’re in need of a little extra help reading our favorite magazine or deciphering items on a menu, are we out of luck?
Let’s take a look at the one pair of glasses that can address all of your summertime vision needs, but first, it’s important to have an understanding of how our eyes work, why some people need help seeing up close, and just how harmful the sun’s rays can be if we don’t take proper precautions.>br />
How Do We See?
Our visual system is composed of an amazing set of parts that are capable of processing data, quite literally, in the blink of an eye. In order to understand why some of us experience vision changes as we age, it’s crucial to have some basic knowledge around how we see in the first place. While some people are born with visual concerns that may need special care right from the start of life, most individuals come out of the womb with excellent vision.Being able to see clearly requires that all of the various elements of our eyes work together correctly, yet as we age, some of these parts may deteriorate. Here’s a very brief look at what happens when we see something:
- Light enters the eye through the cornea and from there it travels through a gel-like solution called the aqueous humor. Only then does it actually enter through the pupil, the black part of the eye that’s actually a large hole!
- One of the most important steps happens next because after light reaches the pupil it enters through the lens. Similar in some ways to a camera lens, this portion of the eye can actually adjust itself to help you see clearly.
- This focused light then reaches the retina, the back of the eye, and encounters a number of various parts. Finally, signals are sent from this portion of the eye to the brain and we see the image that’s in front of us.
When Readers Ccome Into Play
For many people, the way that we see remains relatively unchanged during childhood and the first part of adulthood, but right around the age of 40, things begin to shift. While some may find that they need glasses much sooner than that, those with so-called “perfect” vision will eventually notice that reading up close becomes more difficult than it used to be. Why does this suddenly happen and what can you do about it?
The reason why our near vision tends to decline right around our 40’s is still a bit of a mystery, but this change, called presbyopia, does happen with a fair amount of consistency. It’s linked to the lens in our eye not being able to flex and adapt quite as well as it used to, thus creating an unfocused ray of light that travels to the retina. Muscles around the lens also have a more difficult time reacting to the data that enters through the pupil, and unfortunately, as we get older these body parts have a harder time keeping up.
Sometimes people will begin to notice changes in their vision around their late 30’s while others can see clearly until they’re close to 50, however the early to mid-40’s is really when optometrists see this change the most. Commonly, bifocals will be recommended in order to help you see clearly both up close and far away.
Addressing presbyopia doesn’t have to be a huge chore, as the technology used to create the glasses on today’s market make it an easy task. Bifocals have been around for quite some time, as Benjamin Franklin was actually the inventor of the first set of them, but you don’t have to worry about wearing something that looks archaic. Instead, these lenses are designed with a streamlined look and are simple to use.
A pair of bifocals contains two distinct sections - the top portion allows you to see objects at a distance with ease while the bottom segment helps to magnify things that are up close. If you purchase bifocals from an optometrist, there’s a chance that your far vision will have a correction in it if needed, and this will allow you to see objects at all distances without having to switch between various pairs of glasses.
If you don’t need a far correction, or you’re purchasing an over the counter pair like sunglass readers, the top section of the lens won’t have any type of correction. Simply hold your head upright and look straight ahead - your far vision should be unaffected. However, shift your gaze to the lower portion of the lens, below the faint line you see, and you’ll enjoy a boost in magnification.
The reason why our near vision tends to decline right around our 40’s is still a bit of a mystery, but this change, called presbyopia, does happen with a fair amount of consistency. It’s linked to the lens in our eye not being able to flex and adapt quite as well as it used to, thus creating an unfocused ray of light that travels to the retina. Muscles around the lens also have a more difficult time reacting to the data that enters through the pupil, and unfortunately, as we get older these body parts have a harder time keeping up.
Sometimes people will begin to notice changes in their vision around their late 30’s while others can see clearly until they’re close to 50, however the early to mid-40’s is really when optometrists see this change the most. Commonly, bifocals will be recommended in order to help you see clearly both up close and far away.
Making Reading Easy
Addressing presbyopia doesn’t have to be a huge chore, as the technology used to create the glasses on today’s market make it an easy task. Bifocals have been around for quite some time, as Benjamin Franklin was actually the inventor of the first set of them, but you don’t have to worry about wearing something that looks archaic. Instead, these lenses are designed with a streamlined look and are simple to use.
A pair of bifocals contains two distinct sections - the top portion allows you to see objects at a distance with ease while the bottom segment helps to magnify things that are up close. If you purchase bifocals from an optometrist, there’s a chance that your far vision will have a correction in it if needed, and this will allow you to see objects at all distances without having to switch between various pairs of glasses.
If you don’t need a far correction, or you’re purchasing an over the counter pair like sunglass readers, the top section of the lens won’t have any type of correction. Simply hold your head upright and look straight ahead - your far vision should be unaffected. However, shift your gaze to the lower portion of the lens, below the faint line you see, and you’ll enjoy a boost in magnification.
Going Back Outside
Remember how we talked all about spending time outdoors and how crucial it is to protect our eyes? You may be asking yourself how you can do this if you have a pair of bifocals on your face, but the truth of the matter is, sunglass readers (or bifocal sunglasses) allow you to meet all of your needs in one pair. Utilizing sun protection is critical for people of all ages, as our eyes are delicate and can sustain permanent damage as a result of spending too much time outdoors.There are two types of UV rays that come from the sun, UV-A and UV-B, and both are incredibly powerful. UV-A can impact a part of the retina and lead to a condition called macular degeneration, causing a loss in central vision. UV-B most often affects the cornea and the lens and can lead to premature cataracts, a corneal sunburn, and more. The delicate skin around our eyes is also susceptible to skin cancer if we aren’t careful, so opting for a pair of sunglasses that’s large enough to cover this area is important too.
Wearing sunglasses every time you’re outdoors, even if it’s cloudy out, is the only way to prevent both UV-A and UV-B rays from damaging our eyes. It’s an easy habit to get into, especially if you’ve found a pair that you really love. Sunglasses should be worn when driving, at the pool, and even on the patio of your favorite restaurant while you’re reading the menu.
Bringing It All Together
Now that we’ve learned about how our eyes work, why someone might need to wear bifocals, and how important it is to protect ourselves from sun damage, it’s clear that there’s one thing everyone needs to enjoy summertime. Sure a good book is essential and comfortable sandals are a must, but the one thing you need above all else is a pair of sunglass readers.Imagine sitting by the pool and wanting to enjoy a new book while still being able to keep an eye on your kids. Sunglass readers offer you the ability to see clearly near and far while blocking UV-A and UV-B rays. Spending time outside with friends at a backyard barbeque? Enjoy bifocal sunglasses that temper the intense summer sun while still allowing you to look at your friend’s photos from their recent vacation.
Sunglass readers reduce the need for multiple pairs of glasses as they achieve three different goals in one. Gone are the days of always having to put your readers on your head while you have your sunwear on. No one will have to see you walking around with reading glasses perched precariously on the tip of your nose so that you can look over them and see far away either. With a pair of bifocal sunglasses, you can live a more relaxed life while knowing that you’re doing everything you can to take care of your eyes.
If it sounds like sunglass readers may be the answer to your summertime stress, check out the selection of options from Gamma Ray. Using classic designs with the latest in eyewear technology, you can look stylish while being able to see clearly. From sport styles that allow you to enjoy your favorite activities to fashion-forward silhouettes that will look great by the pool, Gamma Ray has created affordable and comfortable sunglass readers for all.
