In very hot countries like Qatar where temperatures sometimes reach close to 50 degrees Celsius, wearing sunglasses is necessary, an eye expert told The Peninsula
People who are not aware of the importance of sunglasses think they are simply fashion accessories bought for their brand names and to make a style statement. But for the eye conscious, shades are considered a useful tool to counter serious eye problems.
"A person who does not wear sunglasses during very hot months over five years can develop cataract because of ultraviolet (UV) rays damaging the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye)," Irene Senga, an optometrist said. Excessive exposure to UV radiation can cause short-term and long-term ocular problems such as photokeratitis (a burn of the cornea), cataracts and various forms of eye cancer, Senga added.
She pointed out that a large number of youngsters nowadays are already using spectacles because of poor eyesight caused by lack of knowledge on proper eye care and abuse like spending too much time using computers.
Asked whether branded and expensive sunglasses are better than cheap ones, she said that there is no correlation between price and effectiveness of sunglasses. In fact an Australian based study suggested that consumers cannot rely on price as an indicator of quality, she added.
However, she said that the material used in making sunglasses matters, explaining that polarized ones are more effective and should be preferred since they could eradicate UV rays almost completely and could guard against powerful light and glare.
It really depends on what the person wants and how much he is willing to spend but he has to consider his eye's safety over money, she added.
Emphasizing on the significance of the eyes, she suggested other ways of taking care of them such as adequate eye rest, proper diet which includes fruits and vegetables and taking intermittent breaks while using computers.
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