Solar in winter: protect yourself in the city

Many French people have adopted sunglasses in winter, especially during holidays at sea or in the mountains. Yet the harmful rays of the sun are just as dangerous in the city, especially in cloudy weather. They can even be the cause of very serious visual disturbances. We will explain everything to you.

UV rays in the city

91% of French people say they wear their sunglasses in winter, at the beach or in the mountains. The good news is that a few years ago, they were very unaware of the dangerousness of the sun's harmful rays, reflected on shiny surfaces like the sea or the snow. These rays are UVA and UVB, which are not filtered by the ozone layer, unlike UVC. They are also those who reach the cornea and the lens and can damage the eyes, if one does not wear sunglasses.

More alarming figure on the other hand: only 54% of the French use their solar in city. Yet the harmful rays of the sun are equally virulent. Cars, buildings, sidewalks: all these surfaces, very reflective, directly return the sun's rays, loaded with UV rays, in the eyes of passers-by. The risks for both health and safety for all are equally important.

Protect your eyes in the sun … And in a cloudy sky

You do not need a lot of sun to put your eyesight in danger. Even if the sun shines a little or a light cloud cover, the UV is there, despite their invisibility. This is where they are most dangerous, since we tend to be less protective of them and therefore more vulnerable. So we understand that it is well by hazy sky and in town that the danger is the most important.

To protect your eyes from the sun and therefore from UVA and UVB, you should always wear your solar in town , summer and winter and whatever the weather. Opticians , this is where you come in! It is important to explain to your customers that "gadget" glasses are not enough and that only sunscreened with CE marking, followed by a number from 0 to 4, which indicates the degree of protection , are effective. This figure guarantees their filtering quality: the higher it is, the more the wearer is protected. Do not forget to mention that their glasses must also filter UV, especially in the city.

UV rays: what are the risks?

The risks of poor protection against UV rays are very important. When we do not wear sunglasses , especially in the city, UVB and UVA are reflected by all the bright surfaces that surround us and land directly in the cornea and lens . In the long run, they can also damage the retina . The risks are diverse and may, in some cases, cause keratitis (inflammation of the cornea), or even cataracts , a disturbance of vision due to opacification of the lens . They can also be even more serious: LDAD or age-related macular degeneration, a condition that can cause complete blindness .

Also, let's not forget that dazzle due to the reflection of the sun can be very dangerous in the city, when driving or driving on the sidewalk. It is even the cause of many accidents.