Sunglasses for winter

Are sunglasses really necessary in winter?

Well, if we think about the gray, gloomy days typical of the cold season, the answer seems obvious, but as is increasingly the case 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, even leading to severe droughts.

So, if we have a nice winter day, can sunglasses be useful? First of all, it's important to remember that during the cold months, the sun stays 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, glare due to polarized light is more likely to occur, for example on ice and snow, but also on wet asphalt, frosted meadows, and bodies of water more generally.

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

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

It should always be remembered 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 recognized by the designation 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 large part of the UVA and UVB spectrum.

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

Regardless of personal taste, the recommendation is to choose lenses of an appropriate size both to prevent excessive light from reaching the eyes from above or from the sides, and to protect the eyes from wind and dust, which are more frequent in winter.

Finally, it's important to note that counterfeit or non-CE certified glasses are likely equipped with lenses that lack any level of sun protection and can therefore be very dangerous for the wearer, not only on sunny summer days but also on overcast days. It's better to spend a little more and ensure the health of your eyes.