Sunglasses for winter

Are sunglasses really necessary in winter?

Well, if we think about the gray and gloomy days typical of the cold season, the answer seems obvious, but as happens more and more often in recent years, winter days can also be sunny and bright. Indeed, due to climate change, recent winters have been rather mild and with little rainfall, so much so that they have also caused serious drought conditions.

So, if we have a beautiful day in winter, can sunglasses be useful? First of all, we must not forget that during the cold months, the sun remains significantly lower on the horizon for many hours, disturbing the visual perception of those walking in open spaces or driving. Furthermore, in the presence of large reflective surfaces, the phenomenon of glare due to polarized light occurs more easily, for example on ice and snow, but also on wet asphalt, frosted lawns and bodies of water more generally.

It is therefore clear that good sunglasses are more necessary than ever on these occasions. It is not just a question of style, personality and fashion, but an important countermeasure to protect the eyes from the action of UV rays and the blinding glare of polarized light . Especially in contexts where these phenomena are particularly present; let's not forget that snow reflects almost 90% of ultraviolet rays which can therefore reach the eye even indirectly and therefore, overall, in greater quantities.

Obviously, in addition to protection against UV and polarized light, the filtering power of visible light is also important, to be chosen based on the places where the glasses will mainly be used. If you plan to use them especially on ski slopes, then gray or brown lenses are preferable which normally have a filtering power of 3 (category S3), while in less "aggressive" contexts for the eyes, green lenses are also recommended. or blue with S2 filter may be fine.

We must always remember that the filtering power of visible light does not automatically mean protection from UV rays. The latter is guaranteed at the highest levels by special filters recognizable by the denomination UV400 or 100% UV. However, all glasses with the CE mark , in addition to other quality requirements, guarantee adequate protection up to 380 nm, therefore from a good part of the UVA and UVB range.

As regards glare from reflected light, polarized lenses allow you to better filter out annoying seasonal glare, providing clear, sharp vision even in difficult contexts.

Regardless of personal tastes, the suggestion is to prefer lenses of adequate size both to prevent an excessive amount of light from reaching the eyes from above or sideways, and to protect the eye from wind and dust, which are more frequent in winter .

Finally, it is essential to point out that counterfeit glasses or glasses without CE certification are most likely equipped with lenses without any level of solar filter and can therefore be very dangerous for those who wear them, not only on sunny summer days, but also in the presence of cloudy. Better to spend a little more money and ensure the health of your eyes.