Hooray: It’s sunglasses season! While the educated patients who read this optometric blog know that you should wear your sunglasses 365 days a year, every time you go outside, whether it’s cloudy or sunny (to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet rays)—we can’t help but admit that May, June, July, and August do feel more like sunglasses season than the other months.
That being said, how many pairs of sunglasses do you own? Chances are, it’s more than one. If you’re like many of our patients, you have several pair, typically somewhere between three and six pairs, to be exact. But, why do we all need—or maybe we just want—multiple pairs of sunglasses?
Here are 4 reasons to have more than one pair of sunglasses at your disposal this summer, and all year through:
- A pair for every job or circumstance. With summer on the horizon, you likely have activities planned that range from working outside in your garden, walking the dog, playing with the kids, or maybe even hiking, rock climbing, or boating. Throw in an outdoor wedding, party, or music festival while you’re planning. While our optical department has a vast array of sunglass frames, lenses, and lens coatings to choose from, we understand how it could be challenging to select a single pair to fit all of those circumstances. So don’t limit yourself. Find a pair or two that are ideal for your favorite outdoor activities—maybe it’s a wrap-around style that protects your peripheral vision, an extra-large pair for an air of mystery, or a sleek, fashionable pair for social engagements. The sky’s the limit!
- Make a fashion statement. During the pandemic, you may have slipped into the habit of wearing soft pants, bare feet, and going an extra day without washing your hair. But despite all of that, you still want to look good when you go out, right? A pair of sunglasses is the quintessential summer fashion statement. They always fit, no matter how many desserts you ate last week, and they look great with a variety of outfits. Maybe you want both a dressy pair for summer social engagements and a casual pair for days by the pool or on the beach. Variety is the spice of life – and our optical department can help you find several pairs to complement your features and your lifestyle. We’ll help keep you looking, seeing, and feeling great!
- Because they get lost. One of our patients says that when she gets to heaven, she hopes she’ll learn the truth about what happened to all of the lost umbrellas, socks, and—yes—sunglasses that she misplaced over her lifetime. What happens to all of those “lost” sunnies? Are they somewhere under a car seat? In the “lost and found” at an outdoor restaurant or amusement park? Did someone swipe them while you weren’t looking? Did you drop them in the lake and watch them sink, never to be seen again? (An inexpensive floating sunglasses strap can prevent that!) Whatever the cause behind the heartache and headache of losing your favorite pair, it’s a good reason to have at least one backup pair. And, never wear your best sunglasses in high-risk environments. We’re talking to you, rollercoaster fans!
- To see your best. Maybe you’ve reached the magical age where you realize first-hand why people over 40 wear glasses more often than those under that age. (It’s called presbyopia. If you don’t know about it yet, you’ll experience it soon enough!) Or you’ve recently had a LASIK or cataract procedure and find that your eyes are more sensitive to sunlight as a result. Or perhaps you’ve just experienced the velvety vision polarized sunglasses provide in the white-hot sun of mid-day. Whatever the reason, sunglasses help you see your best in bright conditions. And it’s the brightest time of the year: In late May and June, we have about 5 more hours of sunlight than we do in December. With sunnier days ahead, you won’t regret buying an extra pair of prescription or non-prescription sunglasses this summer.
To keep you seeing your best, visit our optical department and find a pair (or two!) of new sunglasses to celebrate sunglasses season in style!