The Hazy Shades of Winter 

The sun may be the last thing that comes to your patients’ minds when they think of winter. 

As they get ready for their work day, they need to remember their gloves, scarves, hats and layers of clothing. They are dealing with the trials of shoveling their driveways and scraping the ice off their cars. They are so preoccupied with the joys and tasks of cold weather, that they often don’t realize that they are constantly squinting while driving to work. They had left their sunglasses at home or somewhere at the beach at the end of the summer. Who needs shades for winter?

If your patients live anywhere with daylight hours, you as an eye care professional need to inform them about winter sun protection. It doesn’t matter if your practice is in Detroit or Florida, the winter sun’s rays can do serious damage to your patients’ eyes. When the weather gets colder, most people are thinking of protecting their body from the cold. They may ignore their sunglasses completely or think the ones from summer will suffice. There is already enough to worry about with shoveling snow, so who needs an extra worry? 

This attitude could be dangerous since the winter sun sits lower in the sky and at a different angle in the cold months. Winter sun reflecting off snow is more blinding than summer sun bouncing off the water. Since the sun’s rays are not blazing hot, we tend to spend more time outdoors without eye protection. Ultraviolet A and B light can be very damaging to various layers of the eye. The glare off the ground not only inhibits vision but it sends the sun’s rays upward. If your patients spend any time outdoors, don’t lose this opportunity to warn them of this possible damage and winterize your practice with seasonal sunwear.
Winter sunglasses need to wrap around your patient’s face and should be lighter in tint for changing light conditions. Here are some of the best!

Ray-Ban’s Daddy-O is lightweight and shatter-proof. It has a nice wrap, comes in tortoise and black, and is Rx ready. They come polarized to block out the sun and are made for sports and comfort. www.ray-ban.com

For women, Oakley has its Flak Jacket performance shades that are ideal for winter sports. The frame is semi-rimless and light with side protection and an 8.75 base curve. It is sleek and offers interchangeable lenses for different sports. It also has multiple, removable nosepads to create the perfect fit in all conditions. Several colors are available. www.oakley.com

Columbia Eyewear’s Rapid Descent frame is a fantastic unisex frame for winter fun. It comes in four colors from metallic black to oxide blue and has a light wrap. The frame has adjustable nosepads for an ideal fit and has several lens colors to choose from. www.lamyamerica.com

For fashionable and functional sun protection, Rudy Project makes the Ability. This ultra-lightweight frame (.90 oz.) is great for winter sports. It is feminine and sporty with its light white frame and Bi-chromic pink lenses. These light-colored lenses are perfect for cloudy days and dusk time. www.rudyprojectusa.com

If winter sun protection is important for your patients’ typical winter days, it is doubly important for their winter sports. Whether they ski, snowboard, or are professional snow-bunnies, proper eyewear is just as important as their ski racks, snow boots and fashionable outfits, especially if they are in the mountains. 

Explain to your patients that temporary conditions such as snow-blindness can occur due to exposure from ultraviolet radiation or infra-red radiation. They should be wearing goggles that remove 100% of UV radiation up to 380 nanometers at the very least. To further protect their eyes, some goggles have a wrapped system for protection against infrared radiation (IR). Though IR may not be as harmful on normal days, it may be more intense at high altitudes in the daytime where conditions are far from normal. It is important to note that most plastic based lenses will not absorb infra-red radiation. Furthermore, infra-red radiation damage is immediate while ultra violet radiation damage is cumulative throughout life.

Snow goggles should act as a seal around the face and be secured with elastic strapping. Try to stock some with double lenses or an anti-fog application. A visit to your office may be the last thing a skier thinks of before hitting the slopes, but you can increase winter optical sales if you offer better education and information than the resorts and ski shops. If you choose to make some extra profits and stock some goggles, here are some to consider:

Since 1965, Smith Optics has been known for making snow goggles. As a leader in snow goggle sales, they are leading the way in technology. They have a line of interchangeable optics where your patients can literally change their lens with a flip of a switch to enhance performance in certain light conditions. The company also offers choices in ventilation to personalize fog control. www.smithoptics.com

For smaller faces, Spy Optics offers the Targa Mini. This goggle has a variety of colorful designs to get your patients noticed from any altitude. It has a dual lens technology and a patented anti-fog system. Most of the company’s goggles are designed to work with most helmets. www.spyoptic.com

Rudy Project has a variety of snow-goggles such as the Klonyx. The white-pearl frame with the Kayvon Red Double Lens is 100% effective at fighting UVA/UVB light. The racing red lens has a multi-layered coating to enhance visual depths and eliminate eye fatigue.

For your patients that wear prescription glasses, make sure the goggles they pick are large enough to fit over them. Their glasses should have nylon frames and polycarbonate lenses to minimize fog. You may also want to stock up on some anti-fog solution because eyeglasses fog up first before goggles.

To many, sunglasses are an accessory that adds flair and personality to their unique style. During difficult financial times, many of your patients may choose to buy inexpensive shades from discount stores or forgo shades all together. Most of your patients will not think of sunglasses as sun protection for their eyes unless you explain it. Don’t let your patients think sun season is only from April to August. If you inform, they will buy!

Laura Miller