Gail V scouts optical styles, trends and brand breakthroughs for eyeconic.com.

Whether I’m cheering on my friend’s kids in peewee football or heading downtown to root for my favorite pros, I make sure my eyes look good, feel comfortable, and will stay healthy.

Yes, I love styling up my look with the latest shades. It’s such an easy way to score fashion points! But I also know how important it is to protect my eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Hey, I put on sun block every day, so why wouldn’t I do my eyes the same favor? The effect of UV rays on the eyes is cumulative and I don’t want to have eye problems down the road.

Now, this may not be the best argument to make with your kids as they’re heading out to the next home football game. They can’t see the effects of sun damage on their eyes the way they can see what sunburn does to their skin.

But you don’t have to try and get kids to think long term! Just tell them they’ll look way cooler in the latest shades. And would they want to miss seeing the game-winning catch because they were squinting through the glare? Of course not! And while that may be their only focus, you can rest easy knowing they’re reducing their risk of damaging their corneas or developing other problems later in life, like cataracts.

Just tell them to check out the latest looks in sunwear at eyeconic.com. They can virtually try-on tons of styles, let our personal shoppers help them zero in on the best look, and find a nearby VSP doctor that carries their faves.

Who knew shopping for shades could be so good for you?

Jessica Hein, member of VSP's Eye Health Management Team

While out trail running over the weekend I was struggling with my eyewear selection. The weather started out foggy and misting, not typical sunglass conditions, but I still needed something to protect my eyes from branches and bugs along the trail. I changed my sunglass lenses to the orange ones to help me see clearer in low light. However, after several miles, the sun came out and I realized I now needed to switch my lenses to ones that protect my eyes from harmful UV rays.

Dark lenses with no UV blocking provide no protection. In fact, they boost your risk of eye damage because they dilate your pupils. They let more light in without blocking the harmful UV rays. 

Here are a few points to keep in mind when purchasing sunglasses: 

• Polarized lenses are not necessary for UV protection, but they do cut glare from reflective surfaces.

• Sunglasses that are darker on top and gradually clearing toward the bottom don’t shield your eyes well enough when you’re out in the open sunlight, such as on the beach or ski slope. They’re fine, however, when you’re driving in a car.
• Test nonprescription sunglasses for distortion by holding them a few inches in front of your eyes. Look through the glasses to focus on some rectangular shape, such as a window frame. Move the glasses slowly from side to side, then up and down. If straight lines look squiggly, the lenses are poor quality.
• Be sure the sunglasses feel comfortable; otherwise you won’t want to wear them for long periods of time.
• Be sure the sunglasses are labeled as providing protection from ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B (UVA and UVB) radiation.

 

Remember that price is not a good indicator of sunglasses’ protective quality. It’s best to consult an eyecare professional to find the right sunglasses for you.

Dan McLean, Consumer Communications Specialist with Transitions Optical

Guest Blogger: Dan McLean oversees all U.S. consumer communications for Transitions Optical, Inc. He lives in Florida, is a triathlete, and spends as much time outdoors as possible.

Last year my wife and I took a trip to Park City, Utah. Born and raised in Florida, I was hoping to hop on a pair of snow skis, like a pair of water skis, and tear down the mountain. Ha! I instead spent my time mastering the bunny slope as children a quarter my size and age fearlessly ripped by. Although tearing down the hills of Deer Valley on fresh powder is different from cruising the beaches of the Gulf, there were some commonalities in the equipment needed and the environment.

For example, the sun can be a sporting buzz kill, especially during the winter. Not only do you have to protect your eyes like you protect your skin from the harmful UV rays, but your run on the slopes can come to a quick end due to a rogue mogul hidden by glare. I wore eyewear with polarized lenses for my winter adventures. Not only did the lenses block the glare off the snow, but they also blocked the UV light from damaging my eyes. 

There’s a belief that on cloudy or overcast days – common for a fresh snowfall – that your eyes aren’t as susceptible to UV damage as on a sunny summer day. This is a myth. UV is present year-round and always a danger, whether it’s winter or summer. What makes winter sports even more dangerous is that 80 percent of UV light is reflected and magnified off the snow, almost doubling your UV exposure. And, like summer sports, winter sport participants are spending hours at a time outdoors exposed to UV rays.

What to look for in your winter eyewear:
Your eyewear is more than a fashion statement – it’s a critical piece of equipment for your sport and your eyes. You want something that is lightweight, comfortable and will protect your eyes from the dangers of the environment, such as kicked-up snow, wind and UV exposure. Make sure your lenses or goggles block 100 percent of UVA and UVB light. Not only are your eyes at risk to long-term UV exposure, but even in the short term your eyes can suffer from photokerititis or, sunburn of the eyes. A second consideration is polarized or color-tinted lenses to reduce glare and enhance contrast, allowing you to see better on the slopes and trails. Other considerations for your lenses include polycarbonate material to keep them from shattering, anti-scratch and anti-fog treatments and, of course, comfort and style, because if you are like me, you may not be able to ski the double black diamond, but you can at least look like you can.

Jill N. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

The winner of our Facebook Sweepstakes made it to Florida Friday afternoon to the Transitions PGA Championship with his wife, brother-in-law and sister-in-law. Whil PGA player John Mallinger wasn’t able to make it to the tournament last minute, our back up plan did work well with an introduction to non-other than Erik Estrada, that’s right, Ponch himself. That’s a fair trade right?

After a good night sleep, Dave and guests joined us at the Transitions/VSP/Nike Competitive Advantage Tent to receive a private swing consultation with Kinesiologist, Tyler, walk through the newest lens and frame technology from Nike and Transitions and learn about the importance of annual eye exams and eye health through a putting excercise wearing glasses that simulated different eye conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration and glaucoma.

Erik Estrada hanging with Dave W.

Next, we walked next door and took a tour of our newest mobile eye clinic (yet to be named!) and recorded a video on the video kiosk showing their squinty faces when they are caught outdoors in bright light. Last stop was the Live Your Vision Pavillion where they experienced Optomate technology and watched the Transitions/VSP/Nike fashion show before sneaking onto Ponch’s tricked out CHP car for a quick photo.

Stay tuned for some videos of Dave’s experience and updates from Sunday, including Erik Estrada’s explanation of the “Sightations” he has been giving out all weekend.

Joel Kestenbaum O.D. is a VSP provider in Long Island, NY.

In today’s guest blog post from Dr. Joel Kestenbaum of Optix Eyecare in Long Island, NY, he discusses protective eyewear and winter sports …

The 2010 Winter Olympics are upon us.  Lets take a look at the common attributes most Winter Olympians have:

• Athletic ability
• Drive and determination
• Support of family and friends
• Excellent vision

If you look at all the skiers, snowboarders, speed skaters, lugers and bobsledders, they are all wearing some sort of protective eyewear.  How do they know which lenses to wear?  What if it is cloudy, sunny, snowing, sleeting, raining, foggy, nighttime, or early morning?

Think Safety First

You can be certain that the lenses in an athlete’s goggles are made of polycarbonate.  For fast-moving winter sports, this material is much more impact-resistant than glass or conventional plastic. The frame also needs to be lightweight and flexible reducing the likelihood of the lens breaking or popping out in a bad fall.  Prescription lenses can be made for inserts that sit behind the shield of the goggle or some goggles are actually made to wear over a regular pair of eyeglasses.

Think Visual Efficiency Next

Black, gray, or smoke lenses

Best for bright conditions – they dim the bright sunlight to ease the strain on your eyes. Depending on the intensity of the tint, these lenses do darken your vision but gray does not alter color.  These lenses are best for wide-open areas, especially on sunny days.  One should not ski or snowboard in trees or trails with dark lenses.

Amber Lenses
Amber is a color in between a light brown and a dark yellow lens.  Amber blocks blue light, greatly increases contrast.  This color is a good choice for seeing moguls out on the slopes.  Amber is best for under cloudy skies or on dimly lit trails but is not recommended for sunny days.

Brown or Bronze Lenses
I love brown lenses.  They are a good “all around” lens color choice.  Brown improves contrast, clarity, and depth perception.  Brown filters out blue light waves thereby enhancing shades of green in trees, bushes, and grass.  Brown is best for daytime skiing and snowboarding in good weather.

Vermilion, Red or Rose Lenses
Red lenses, usually referred to as “rose” or “vermilion,” will increase contrast and brighten cloudy, dreary days. It is important to remember that this color lens distorts real world colors.  This fact is probably not important on the slopes.  These lenses are not suitable for bright, sunny days.

Yellow Lenses
Yellow works best in foggy, hazy conditions. Yellow increases clarity even in dense fog.

Best for: Skiing or snowboarding in the early morning fog.  Yellow is not for bright, sunny days.

Clear Lenses
Clear lenses do not alter your vision and work great in dark conditions when you still need to protect your eyes from wind, debris, and harmful UV rays. They are best suited for dark conditions, such as night skiing and snowboarding.

Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses block reflected glare off the horizontal plane and are great when it’s bright out. But they may not be ideal near the end of the day when long shadows appear in the snow, because they are usually made with a darker tint than most sun lenses.  Polarized lenses are not suitable if you ski moguls or for nighttime use.

Anti-Fog

Look for anti-fogging features, UV protection and scratch resistance.  Some goggles have double lenses that discourage condensation from forming when the warm air of your breath makes contact with the cold lens.

And most importantly, athletes need excellent quality vision.  Whether you prefer eyeglasses or contact lenses, make sure your optometrist takes his or her time determining your best visual correction.

Stay safe on the slopes and enjoy the 2010 Winter Olympics!

Dr. Joel Kestenbaum

www.optixeyecare.com

Learn more about the importance of wearing sunglasses – even on cloudy, overcast days – on VSP’s Eyecare Discovery Center and The Vision Council’s Under the Sun Guide.

While we can’t see ultraviolet radiation, it can see—and harm—us if we are not careful. Even on an overcast day, UV light from the sun can cause sunburn of our skin and the cornea of our eyes, which is called “photokeratitis.”  Over a long time, it can increase your chance of cataracts (a clouding of the lens of the eye) and damage to your retina that might lead to total blindness.

Team Type 1's Kori Seehafer wearing Nike sunglasses.

Sunscreen protects your skin from overexposure to UV rays. Proper lenses can safely block UV radiation and protect your eyes.

Be Glare Aware!
Glare, or extreme brightness, can be distracting and even dangerous. The direct rays of the sun are the most powerful source of glare and UV radiation, but glare can also be reflected off roads, buildings, water, and snow. Special “polarized” lenses reduce or eliminate glare and reflections. They work by selectively absorbing the reflected glare while transmitting useful light from the scene.

Source: eyedidntknowthat.com

Sara P. is a member of Altair's sales team.

I’ve recently developed an addiction to sunwear. I’ve got a full rainbow spectrum to choose from and I have no intention of slowing down. It’s a recent obsession so I’m only at 8 pairs but the rate at which I’ve acquired them is getting a bit scary.

I have gone through accessory addictions in the past (shoes, purses, one weird phase of collecting argyle socks) but this one is turning into a dangerous one for me because a) I work in the industry so am constantly being exposed to the latest and greatest and b) I can make the argument that it’s actually for my own good: “Hellooo, the lenses are polarized, which means UV protection, which means I’m protecting my eyes…what, you don’t think my precious eyes need protection?!”

For my friends and family that mock my ever-expanding collection, I tell them it’s very simple-I have a compulsion to match my sunglasses to my clothing. But secretly, I match them to my moods too. There are just some moods and days that scream for that funky green pair, and others that demand the classic black.

While having the sunwear rainbow at your disposal seems somewhat reasonable if you argue the “But they need to match my outfit” point, I recently read about a technology that would actually give me zero reason to have more than one pair of sunglasses…if we’re talking sunwear as strictly a color coordination accessory versus a choice of mood.

It’s actually a pair of sunglasses that will turn into any color you desire, which got me thinking-would I be able to give up all my different sunglasses and commit to just one pair if I could make them any color I wanted? I’ll just say this-I’m very relieved that I won’t have to make this decision any time soon!

Liz B. is a member of VSP's Corporate Public Relations team.

Dear Readers:

Thank you for your support and comments to the VSP Blog! In appreciation and to help bring attention to the importance of vision health and of protecting your eyes all year round (see UV Protection – Protect Your Eyes), we’re giving a way a pair of Nike sunglasses on Twitter to one winner. It’s super easy to enter:

Make your own customized eyechart!

1. Using our cool eye chart app at http://eyechart.seemuchmore.com/ or on Facebook at http://apps.facebook.com/vsp_eye_charts/, simply create an eye chart with a secret message, like the one I created for this blog post.
2. After typing in your message and clicking “Make Chart,” click the “Grab Link For Sharing” button and copy the link generated for your chart.
3. Paste the link into this Twitter message: See my cool eye chart YOUR LINK. RT or create your own to enter #SeeMuchMore #Giveaway http://bit.ly/Mh8ql
4. Then, just tweet this message from your personal Twitter account. That’s it – you’re entered.

If you’re too busy to create your own eye chart (although it’s pretty cool), you can also retweet someone else’s post about their eye chart.

Be sure your tweet is posted between today, Tuesday, October 13 at 10:00 a.m. ET and Friday, October 16 at 12:00 a.m. (midnight) ET and that your tweet includes the #seemuchmore and #giveaway hashtags – they’re vital to becoming entered to win. And remember that you must be at least 18 years old to participate.

That’s all there is to it.

The winner will be selected at random from the entries, and will be notified on Tuesday, October 20 with a public reply from @VSPVisionCare on Twitter using the winner’s Twitter handle and the #seemuchmore, #giveaway and #winner hashtags.

Good luck!