[헬스가이드-선글라스] The best ‘shield’ to block UV rays… The darker the lens, the more effective it is…

◇ Regardless of the weather, you must wear sunglasses when you go outside.Cataracts are the most common eye disease caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays. When the lens is exposed to ultraviolet rays, active oxygen is created, causing deterioration of the lens, which increases the risk of developing cataracts.

The causal relationship between ultraviolet rays and macular degeneration remains unclear. However, short-wavelength light, such as ultraviolet rays or blue light, is known to cause significant oxidative stress in the retinal pigment epithelium layer within the retina, which is closely related to macular degeneration. Pterygium and dry eye syndrome are closely related to ultraviolet rays.

Professor Kim Yong-chan said, “It’s always good to wear sunglasses when you go out regardless of the weather because ultraviolet rays always reach the surface of the earth, whether it’s a clear day or a cloudy day.” He said, “Especially on cloudy days, ultraviolet rays are scattered and reflected, making it bright.

◇ There is no correlation between lens color and UV protection effect.

Abroad, it is common to carry sunglasses regardless of the season. This tendency is seen more often in white people. This is related to the color of the eyes. Races with bright eye colors, such as blue eyes and green eyes, have weaker protection mechanisms from sunlight and ultraviolet rays than races with dark eyes, making them vulnerable to various eye diseases.
Black eyes, like those of Koreans, accept less light and create less glare during the day, but it is difficult to recognize things at night. On the other hand, people with bright eye colors absorb a lot of light and experience extreme glare during the day, but can easily recognize objects with only a small amount of light at night. So, the reason why many Westerners wear sunglasses is because their sensitivity to light is higher than ours.

However, the darker the color of the sunglass lens, the more effective it is in blocking UV rays. It is true that the darker the color of the lens, the less glare there is, but it has nothing to do with UV protection. Instead, if you wear sunglasses with dark lenses and a low UV blocking level, your pupil will dilate to increase the amount of light and UV exposure will increase, causing more serious effects. In general, lenses with a color density of around 75-80% visible to the human eye are recommended.

Professor Kim Yong-chan said, “Most sunglasses and sunglasses sold in Korea are equipped with UV blocking functions, but the UV blocking level of sunglasses that ‘decrease gradually over time.’

◇ Visibility is perfected in the upper grades of elementary school… Be careful when wearing sunglasses on children

It is necessary to pay more attention to the choice of sunglasses in children and teenagers who are sensitive to the development of vision.

Childhood is a period of growth in which vision continues to develop, so the lens is clearer than that of adults, allowing ultraviolet rays to penetrate deeper . But, on the other hand, wearing sunglasses for a long time can hinder the development of vision.

Professor Kim Yong-chan said, “A person’s vision is partially achieved by the upper grades of primary school. Children and teenagers should wear sunglasses at times when ultraviolet rays are strong. However, for active children, they should be made of carbonate material, which has a relatively low risk of breakage, for safety reasons.” “It’s best to wear lenses made with ,” he advised.
Reporter Jong-ho Jang [email protected]

◇ Professor Kim Yong-chan (right) from the Department of Ophthalmology at Incheon St. Mary in treatment. Photo provided by Incheon St. Hospital. Mary’s