Sunglasses for Outdoor Workers

Outdoor workers need to protect their eyes by wearing sunglasses on the job, says the American Optometric Association (AOA).

The AOA offers the following advice for outdoor workers to find quality nonprescription sunglasses:

• Don’t be misled by UV labels or price. Be sure that the lenses have 99 to 100 percent protection from both UV-A and UV-B (ultraviolet) radiation.
• Try the sunglasses on before a mirror. Lenses should block out 75 to 90 percent of light.
• Gray is a good lens color choice. Green and brown are also acceptable lens colors.
• Check lenses to be sure the tint is uniform, not darker in one area than another.
• Hold glasses at arm’s length. Look through them at a straight line in the distance, such as the edge of a door. Slowly move the lens across the line. If the straight edge distorts, sways, curves or moves, the lens has imperfections.
• Look for sunglasses with polycarbonate lenses, which are the most impact resistant lenses available today.

Outdoor workers should wear sunglasses on bright, cloudy days as well as sunny ones, the association says, because clouds do not block UV radiation (Source: “Outdoor Workers Need Sunglasses With UV Protection,” AOA News Release). 

The Visionary, published as a service of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness,
is available upon request. The information contained in this issue,
taken from sources considered to be accurate,
does not replace the need for professional eye care consultations and treatments.

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