More than meets the eye

Doctor warns cheap sunglasses might do more harm than good. At first glance, a basic accessory like a pair of sunglasses really has no reason to be expensive _ and to be a health-related issue worthy of ophthalmological concern. How much can two small dark plates and a simple frame cost, and how detrimental can a pair of poor quality sunglasses be to your eyes?We are bombarded with choices today, and a pair of shades can cost anywhere from 20 baht to more than 20,000 baht. We have ultra-cheap, plastic junk sold in a pile at the market, and we have unbelievably expensive branded ones. We even have various grades of knock-offs to choose from, offered by dodgy online shops. What's a consumer to do?

Dr Keerati Pungpapong, ophthalmologist at Bumrungrad Hospital, said that it is important to choose well when it comes to something to protect your eyes.

"A pair of sunglasses is not just an accessorising item, although that's the main reason why a lot of people wear them. Your sunglasses should be able to protect you from three things _ UV rays, intense brightness and dust."

Contrary to popular belief, not all tinted glasses provide protection from ultraviolet rays in sunlight, and glasses that can eliminate UV rays are not necessarily tinted.

"UV-protection coating is actually clear and colourless. If you want sunglasses that offer UV protection, don't choose by the tinting, but by a sticker or a label indicating UV protection."

UV rays might not damage your eyes in a day, but accumulated exposure could lead to many eye problems. UVB can cause crow's feet, skin cancer, pterygium (surfer's eye), pinguecula and cataracts as well as macular degeneration.

"While no sunglasses can block 100% of UV rays, as they can still reach your eyes from the top or the side of the sunglasses, some protection is better than none," said the ophthalmologist. He recommends wearing sunglasses whenever you are out in the sun, and it should be a habit introduced as early in life as possible.

Most children are not taught the importance of wearing sunglasses because parents often think it is not necessary for such young, healthy eyes. According to WebMD, 73% of adults wear sunglasses, but only 58% make their children wear shades, too.

"Children's eyes are still not completely developed and their natural protection is not yet strong. If they are damaged, the effect could be more devastating than in adults. Moreover, they are not as careful as adults in avoiding strong sunlight because it is their nature to like playing outdoors. Wearing sunglasses from a young age can help protect against some eye conditions that develop later in life," said Dr Keerati.

Although we don't need the most expensive sunglasses available to mankind, cheap ones might not offer the protection we need, and do further damage to our eyes. Dr Keerati explained that the lens material makes all the difference.

"Polycarbonate and polyurethane lenses are impact-resistant and offer better optical clarity. They are less likely to get scratched compared to acrylic lenses. Since scratches may interfere with your vision and scatter light, sunglasses with scratches force the eyes to strain, causing headache and making the eyes tired," he explained, adding that sometimes cheap ones do not have anti-UV coating at all.

He advised that expensive branded sunglasses are not always the best choice considering value for money. Those in the medium-price range offered by reliable brands are a relatively safe choice.

"Most brands have quality control processes to make sure that their products are up to consumers' expectation, while non-branded ones have nothing to lose. While branding doesn't indicate the quality, it gives a bit more assurance."

Another tip from Dr Keerati is to choose sunglasses with grey or brown lenses. Fancy lenses in green, red or other hues can distort colours and alter your colour perception significantly. Grey lenses reduce light intensity without altering the colour of objects, while brown lenses block a larger percentage of blue light, providing a warmer appearance of colours.

The best judge is your own feeling. A good pair of sunglasses should not cause a headache or vision problems. They should feel comfortable enough for you to wear for hours, and should not leave marks on your skin. Whether they look cool should not be as important as their ability to protect your eyes.