Take it from me, I only started to wear sunglasses consistently in my early 20s. I didn’t grow up with an emphasis on the importance of wearing sunglasses and spent many summers blissfully ignorant of the harm done to my eyes squinting in the bright sunlight and feeling special that I didn’t have to wear sunglasses comparing against the many people I saw wearing them out and about. I only took an interest in wearing sunglasses in the wintertime of all seasons when looking at freshly fallen snow was hard to bare and I felt that wearing sunglasses while driving would reduce the brightness so that I could take in all the sights unencumbered. Thankfully, I did it right looking for UVA/UVB protection along with polarized lenses.
It didn’t take long for my eyes to become accustomed to wearing sunglasses when I am outside. Nowadays, if the sun is out in full force, I can barely tolerate looking around without sunglasses shielding my eyes. I recently read a post about the sun damage done to the poster’s eyes and it got me reading up on the benefits of wearing sunglasses:
- Protection from UV damage: Yes, your eyes can get sunburned! Long term, it can cause cataracts and macular degeneration.
- Reduction in glare and eye strain: Sunglasses cut down on the harsh brightness so your eyes do not have to work as hard to see clearly.
- Headache prevention: Less squinting in bright light can reduce tension and light-triggered headaches.
- Lessens the formation of wrinkles and crow’s feet: Habitual squinting can lead to the more perpetual formation of wrinkles around the eyes which is considered a sign of aging.
- Improvement in driving safely: Better visibility in bright or reflective conditions can help you gauge the situation and react faster while on the road.
Don’t be like me! Start wearing sunglasses regularly to keep your eyes healthier, more comfortable, and better protected.
Life Fright 
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