Sunglasses earned a place in popular culture due to endless style options, such as the oversized round eyewear made famous by Jackie Kennedy Onasis or the yellow aviator-style Ray-Bans worn by Hunter S. Thompson. While they make chic accessories, sunglasses also offer a variety of health benefits. Below, learn what perks you can expect when you wear sunglasses regularly.

5 Health Benefits of Sunglasses 

1. Shields the Eyes From the Elements

You can use the eyewear to protect your eyes from wind, sand, dust, and dirt. Wind dries the eyes out, while sand and other particles can irritate and scratch them. A scratch on your cornea is extremely uncomfortable and can lead to further eye issues.  

2. Protects the Surrounding Skin From Aging & Cancer

Wear sunglasses with built-in UVA and UVB protection to shield the eyes and surrounding skin from cancer. The disease can manifest in several parts of the eye, including the iris, choroid, and ciliary body. Sunglasses also prevent squinting in the sun so that the skin around your eyes stays smooth instead of wrinkled.

3. Reduces Eye Disease Risk

Sunglasses lower your risk of numerous eye diseases, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. UV rays contribute to all of these diseases that eventually cause blindness without treatment.

4. Helps Avoid Headaches

Keep the eyewear handy to prevent headaches and migraines. Sunlight triggers or exacerbates headaches in migraine sufferers. If you are among these people, sunglasses allow you to enjoy the outdoors without worrying if it will lead to hours of pain and discomfort.

5. Promotes Faster Healing

You can facilitate the healing process from eye surgery such as LASIK and photorefractive keratectomy (PRK) by wearing sunglasses. The eyewear prevents light sensitivities and other issues such as hazy vision. Your eye doctor will recommend protective sunglasses featuring full UV protection to help you heal safely. 

Discuss the right sunglasses for your eye health needs with Dr. Ron Sealock, the eye doctor serving Dothan, AL, and the surrounding areas. The eyewear and optometry center features a Zeiss Clarus Retinal Camera that allows the doctor to capture images of patients’ eyes without dilating them. Call (334) 793-9607 today to make an appointment or visit the practice online for frame information.