Overcoming My Fear of Sunglasses (or "Going to the Dark Side")

I always had a difficult time with the concept of wearing sunglasses. There were many reasons for this, and none of them very good.

First, I am nearsighted. My myopia is not severe enough to limit me from doing most activities, but I have difficulty reading small text at a distance. Because I wear glasses, I never had anywhere or any way to transport a pair of sunglasses easily. I could wear sunglasses instead of my regular glasses, but I wouldn't feel entirely confident driving. Wearing sunglasses over my regular glasses would be cumbersome and would make me look awkward. That brings me to my next point.

Second, I didn't like the way that sunglasses looked on me. I am average-looking in most respects. Many sunglasses are geared towards athletes or the especially fashion-savvy. I am not that extreme, nor am I particularly geared towards trendiness. However, I am concerned enough about how I look to be able to rule out a lot of sunglasses as a possibility.

Thirdly, and probably most ignorantly, I rarely considered the long-term effects that not wearing sunglasses might have on my vision. The sun gives off high energy ultraviolet (UV) rays on a constant basis. This is unlikely to change anytime soon. These rays have been implicated in a variety of eye problems and conditions. The more that a person exposes their eyes to these rays, the more likely it is that problems will develop in that individual.

These negative effects completely outweigh the first and second excuses for not wearing sunglasses. Though I might have vision that requires corrective lenses now, that is no excuse for risking the long-term health of my eyes by not protecting them against the sun. Things like clip-on lenses are available for glasses, and though they are not the most stylish eyewear, they are relatively convenient for things like driving when I need my glasses. And they make driving considerably easier.

Likewise, the health of my eyes is more important than looking good or stylish. People that judge others based on the undefinable "coolness" of their eyewear are probably not worth my or anyone else's time. Even taking some occasional chiding from friends is preferable to losing my ability to see.

If you've been resistant to the idea of wearing sunglasses, either because you already wear corrective lenses or because you feel as if you don't "look good" in sunglasses, keep searching for a pair of sunglasses that you like. Go to a sunglasses store and ask an attendant for help. Even if you end up purchasing an expensive pair of sunglasses, your eyes are worth it (provided that the glasses are effective at reducing UVA/UVB radiation from reaching your eyes). Thoughts on sunglasses or other health-related summer attire? Leave them in the form of a comment. Thank you for reading.