Mini Sunnies and It's Limitations

Kanye West texted Kim Kardashian “Dump your big shades, mini sunnies are going to be trending” and down we go. I have to admit I own a pair myself and because of that I can definitely say that they are pretty and stylish, cool for pictures but harmful to be out there in the sun with them, shades have a function and that is to protect the eyes from the UV rays that come from the sun. There are two types of UV rays: UV-A and UV-B. Over time, the effects of UV rays may help cause a number of eye problems.

UV-A

Can hurt your central vision. It can damage the macula, a part of the retina at the back of your eye.

UV-B

The front part of your eye (the cornea and the lens) absorbs most UV-B rays, but these rays may cause even more damage to your eyes than UV-A rays.

These are some of the eyes problems UV rays can cause:

Macular Degeneration

UV rays may lead to macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss for older Americans.

Cataract

UV rays, especially UV-B rays, may also cause some kinds of cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, the part of the eye that focuses the light we see.

Pterygium

Another UV-related problem is a growth called pterygium. This growth begins on the white of the eye and may involve the cornea. Eventually, the growth may block vision. It is more common in people who work outside in the sun and wind.

Skin Cancer

Skin cancer around the eyelids is also linked to prolonged UV exposure.

Corneal Sunburn

Corneal sunburn, called photokeratitis, is the result of high short-term exposure to UV-B rays. Long hours at the beach or skiing without proper eye protection can cause this problem. It can be very painful and may cause temporary vision loss.

It is so annoying to see all these influencers saying the same things over and over again is like they sit down and write a script together “Oh I got this on Amazon at 7 dollars” “ Oh I love them and I’m going to wear them all the time” etc etc, when the reality is that we use them for pictures and to walk with them for 3 minutes to catch a show during fashion week.

So make sure to pack your big glasses along with the mini ones if you are going to be outdoors.