Everyone knows that sunscreen, long shirts and even umbrellas can play a role in protecting your face and body from the sun’s harmful UV rays—but what about UV protective coating on your glasses? Do you actually need a UV protective coating layer or is this just another thing that companies created to upsell when it is time to buy new glasses? The following guide will help you learn more about UV protective coating and whether or not you need it on your glasses.
What is UV Protective Coating?
UV protective coating on glasses works in the same manner as UV protective coating on sunglasses. The primary difference is that the UV protective coating on standard eyeglasses is clear, whereas the coating on sunglasses has a dark tint. Since UV protective coating is not standard on eyeglasses, it must be added specifically due to the request of the buyer. UV protective coating does have an additional cost associated with it, which is why many people wonder whether or not they should add it to their glasses.
Why You Need UV Protective Coating On Your Glasses
Although there is an extra cost associated with receiving UV protective coating on your glasses, the extra expense is worth the benefits associated with this type of coating. Your eyes need to be protected from UV rays from the sun, especially during the day and time periods when you are not wearing sunglasses with protective UV coating. Your eyes will need to be protected both on sunny days and cloudy days, since UV rays can still penetrate on cloudy days. This also includes when you are driving during the morning or afternoon, when you are walking outside, or even when you are inside but near an open window.
Repeated exposure to UV rays from the sun can actually damage your eyesight over time. UV rays have been shown to increase the development of problems like pingueculae, pterygia, as well as cataracts and even macular degeneration. If you wear UV protective coating, however, then you are reducing your risk of developing these problems. This risk reduction is why having UV protective coating on your glasses is such an important step to take when you are getting new lenses for a new glasses prescription.
It is especially important to have UV protective coating on your glasses if you don’t wear sunglasses very often or at all. Sunglasses can play an important role in reducing your risk for sun damage to your eyes, so if you don’t wear them—or you wear pairs without UV coating on them—then you can help reduce your risk by ensuring that you do have UV protective coating on your traditional glasses.
Remember, the next time that you are ordering new lenses or getting a new prescription, ask about the cost associated with adding some UV protective coating to the glasses. While there is an additional expense involved, the benefits of reducing your risk for various types of eye damage and degenerative conditions is well worth the monetary cost.