How Much Do You Really Know
About Sunglasses and
Ultraviolet Light?

1. Sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB light rays are much more expensive than other sunglasses.

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2. Children don't need to wear sunglasses, because their eyes are better able to withstand ultraviolet rays and glare than adult eyes are.

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3. Overexposure to ultraviolet light can cause growths on the eye called pingueculae and pterygia.

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4. Cataracts and age-related macular degeneration may also be caused, at least in part, by too much ultraviolet light exposure.

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5. If you are a mountain dweller, you will likely be exposed to higher UV levels than if you live in the lowlands.

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6. There is no reason to wear sunglasses on a cloudy day.

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7. Sunglass lenses with dark tints are more protective against ultraviolet rays than those with light tints.

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8. High-energy visible (HEV) light — also called blue light — is a kind of ultraviolet radiation.

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9. Only people with light-colored eyes need sunglasses; people with dark-colored eyes are naturally protected because they have more pigment in their eyes.

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10. Brown-tinted sunglass lenses are best for letting you see colors as they really are.

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11. If you're wearing high-quality sunglasses, it's OK to gaze at the sun.

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12. Anti-reflective coating often is applied to the back surface of sunglass lenses to reduce glare caused by light reflecting into your eyes when the sun is behind you.

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13. The UV Index is a 10-point scale that sunscreen lotion manufacturers devised in the 1970s to encourage people to buy their product.

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14. The lowest risk level on the UV Index is indicated on UV maps with the color green.

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15. If you wear contact lenses with a UV blocker, you still need to wear sunglasses.

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16. Certain medications can increase your body's sensitivity to UV and HEV radiation.

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