You want to protect your eyes, but you may not be taking all of the necessary precautions to do that. There are many myths surrounding sunglasses that you should know before buying sunglasses and ensuring you are offering maximum protection for your eyes.

• Myth #1. Expensive sunglasses protect your eyes.
• Myth #2. You don’t have to wear sunglasses if it’s overcast outside.

Expensive sunglasses are great when you want to make a fabulous first impression or if you want high quality frames. Expensive sunglasses may not always warrant the high price tag, but they are usually made of high quality plastic or metal with strong hardware that prevents them from breaking as easily as lower quality frames. This doesn’t mean the protection for your eyes is automatically built in. Look for specific information on the tag or paperwork that accompanies your sunglasses for UV protection.

UV protection blocks UVA/UVB rays from filtering through. This is not required by law on all sunglasses. While many high end sunglasses do have this protection, it is not mandatory which is why you want to do your homework before you buy.

Many people think you don’t have to wear sunglasses because you aren’t outside. Numerous studies have shown that UVA/UVB rays can still affect the eyes on a very cloudy day. The sun’s rays are extremely powerful and pass through the clouds, which means exposure to the sun is still a threat. Protect your eyes by making sunglasses apart of your daily routine when spending time in the sun.

Color blindness does not mean you are blind in any way. Color blindness actually means a person is unable to distinguish similar colors. This is usually blue and yellow or red and green. Color blindness is hereditary. It affects about 8% of men and less than 1% of females.

The most common color deficiency is red and green. A very small percentage of people who suffer from color blindness have trouble distinguishing blue and yellow. The blue-yellow color deficiency affects the same number of men and women in that small pool.

Pink eye is a pain to deal with, but it is not extremely harmful to your health. Pink eye can occur at any age and typically goes away within a few days with the help of antibiotics. Pink eye can reoccur, but that’s no cause for alarm. To prevent pink eye, follow these steps and you will reduce your chances of developing any type of infection in the eyes.

If you are concerned with the health of your eyes, you need to see an eye doctor. If you’re new to the area or not satisfied with your current eye doctor, you may have questions about finding an optometrist that’s right for you.

• Find an experienced optometrist.
• Find an eye doctor with an office near your home or work place.

Begin your search for an experienced optometrist online. There are numerous databases and online review sites that will  yield plenty of results for an eye doctor in your area. When looking for an eye doctor, make sure they are licensed in your state and board certified. Their website should look professional and offer a complete explanation of the services offered.

Sunglasses shield you from the sun and protect the area around the eye. The right sunglasses not only do this, but they also protect the eyes themselves. Your eyes are more vulnerable than you think. UV rays are especially harmful to the retina, which is why you should never look directly at the sun.