Why you shouldn't use eyeglasses with false UV filter

Why do some types of sunglasses damage your eyes? Why is it very essential that sunglasses must have ultraviolet protection (otherwise it is better not to use them at all)? What are ultraviolet rays?...

The UV rays are not visible to our eyes, but they are emitted from the sun together with the visible and non visible spectrum. In other words, they are sun rays that we don't see, but are pretty damaging to our skin and eyes. When we stay too long in the sun we get sunburn from these rays. 

Now imagine these rays inside your eyes, or like it is otherwise called, in the retina. Retina is one of the most sensible part of our eyes. The light is captured there and thanks to the retina it is translated in neurological messages, which are deciphered by our brain and voila the images are seen. Do not think that the ultraviolet spectrum is bad, by any means! It is also good and thanks to it, we can produce the vitamin D in our skin.) 

The lenses of sunglasses are composed of filters that form a barrier to a part of the sun’s visible spectrum rays, so in this way we can comfortable see in sunlight. But, when we put on the sunglasses the amount of light entering in our eyes is, in this way, reduced, resulting in the eyes being physiologically dilated. The major part of the sunglasses are so dark that even when our pupils are fully dilated, the amount of visible sunlight entering into our eyes doesn't make us uncomfortable. 

The problem is the absence of ultraviolet filters in some cheap sunglasses, because if these kind of rays are not stopped and the pupils are dilated, the amount of UV-rays entering the retina will increase dramatically, resulting in damaging it! So, you can get retina burn just like sun burn of the skin! Especially if you use sunglasses without UV-filters in high latitude and snowing areas. Because the higher we are, the bigger is the amount of sun radiation that we take, especially UV-rays. 

So, when you go skiing, sunglasses with UV protection are a must and if you like to wear normal sunglasses, be sure that they have the UV- protection filters, or don't use them at all.

Best Sun Protection Methods

Hi everybody living in the Northern hemisphere of planet Earth! The summer is coming and with it, the pleasure of going to the beach and... relaxing!

But be careful not to relax too much in the sun without the appropriate protection, especially if it is your first time this year. Otherwise you are going to get a nasty sun burn in just half an hour! Yes, I am not kidding!

If it is 12:00 AM to 2:00 PM and you are not wearing a protective cream containing  SPF 50 or higher, half an hour is enough to make your first day at the beach, a nightmare. 

If your skin is not so pale like mine, than maybe the sun rays will do the same job, in approximately 45 minutes! I don't want to scare you, but it is very important to be really careful when you go for the first time to the beach. Two weeks ago I had the opportunity to go  to the beach! Needless to say, I was very happy and in a hurry, resulting in me, forgetting my sun glasses. But, at least I took the sun protection measures, a hat and the spf cream. 

After sitting under the umbrella and listening to the sea I got so relaxed that I felt asleep. It was one of the best moments for a while, but when i got up, the shadow of my umbrella has moved leaving half of my body exposed to the sun! So, the next day one of my arms and legs were red as a tomato. But that's not all! I couldn't get any sleep that night, the sun burns were very itchy... Be careful not to ruin your holidays...
So my advices are as follow:

1. Before you go to the beach or anywhere outside to take some sun, be careful not to forget the sun protective cream spf 50 or 50 + in the first days, your sunglasses, a cap and a lots of fluids to hydrate your body (ice tea, beer, or whatever you like.) I prefer just plain water.

2. Do not stay long hours under the sun. The mid day hours are the most dangerous ones. Even if you have used a sun protection cream, try to avoid the long exposures. The best hours to get the 'good' sun rays are 7-10 AM. If you are like me, which means that you like to stay too much in the sea, having fun, then, may be wearing a white t-shirt is the best way to protect your skin. The white color reflects all the ray spectrum of the sun keeping you cool and protected. And at the same time use a hat and sun glasses! Yes, I do swim like this sometimes and believe me it is really cool! ;)

Now lets say a few words for the benefits of the sunlight, after talking too much of its dangers. First of all sun is life itself. Without the sun we can not live, I wouldn't write this article and you of course, wouldn't read it. :P

Second, from the sunlight we get the vitamin D! This vitamin is produced in our skins by the help of the ultraviolet spectrum of the sun rays . Our body can not produce vitamin D, if we are, let's say, exposed to the sun behind a window. We need to get direct sun light to be able to produce the vitamin D.

Exposing our cheeks and forehead for approximately an hour to the sun is normally enough to take the daily dose of vitamin D. Unfortunately, during the winter months, I don't think that the majority of us, can fulfill their vitamin D needs, in the natural ways, so we should take some vitamin D supplements.

But exposing your whole body to the sun, in the summer period can give you the chance to produce a supply of some months, of vitamin D, since this vitamin is an oil based vitamin. This means that in difference from the water based vitamins, it can by stored in the liver. So, it is no wonder, that when we have long summer holidays, we will feel better and be healthier during the cold winter months. This shows how important vitamin D is for our body.

The major duties of this vitamin are: 

1. Calcium metabolism regulator

2. Immune system booster

3. Insulin secretion booster 

4. Sustaining the low blood pressure.

Stay well and protect your skin. :)