Sunglasses at Dr. Cooper Pediatric Ophthalmology & Family Eye Care

Sunglasses have the double advantage of shielding your eyes from irritating glare and making you look stylish — but this form of eye protection can and should do much more than that. The right kind of sunglasses can protect your eyes against radiation that might otherwise cause everything from cataracts to cancer. But not every pair of sunglasses out there will give your eyes this essential protection. That’s why you should turn to our wonderful optical department  for fashionable sunglasses that offer UV filtering and other desirable features.

Critical Eye Protection Against UV Rays

The sun may be a life-giving and light-giving force, but it can also do considerable harm to your eyes and vision without your even being aware of it. That’s because it generates ultraviolet (UV) radiation as well as visible light and thermal radiation. There are actually three different types of UV radiation, UVA, UVB and UVC. While the atmosphere prevents UVC from reaching you, UVA and UVB can both cause or worsen problems such as:

  • Cataracts, a clouding of the proteins in your lenses that can lead to blindness if unchecked
  • Macular degeneration, a progressive, irreversible destruction of the retinal structure responsible for central vision loss
  • Cancer, including eye cancer and potentially deadly eyelid melanoma
  • Photokeratitis (a.k.a.”snowblindness”), an irritating condition that causes eye redness, swelling, pain, sensitivity to light or other symptoms

Sunglasses play a crucial role in preventing both UV radiation and uncomfortable amounts of visible light from reaching your eyes and eyelids, enabling you to enjoy the great outdoors without fear.

Not All Sunglasses Are Created Equal

Don’t assume that simply buying the first pair of Burlingame CA sunglasses you like will guarantee that you’re giving your eyes the protection they need.  Any sunglasses, especially the cheaper generic ones found in malls and discount stores,  block light without blocking sufficient amounts of UV.  You should only purchase sunglasses that are rated as “UV 400,” meaning that they block all light waves up to 400 nanometers (the full UVA and UVB range).

Get the Eye Protection You Need from Our Eye Doctors

Our eye doctors and opticians can provide every member of your family — adults, children and infants alike — with high-quality sunglasses that offer genuine eye protection as well as good looks. In addition to our wide range of designer prescription and non-prescription sunglasses, we can also provide clip-on and fit-over models that you can use with your existing eyeglasses. If you spend lots of time gazing at reflective highways, snow or water skiing, and love the beach, we can also provide polarized lenses to reduce that type of glare. Call 650-259-0300 and start protecting your family’s eyes today!