Health
Do sunglasses harm our health?
We’ve all heard that the best way to start our day is with a dose of natural, naked sunlight – no barriers, no filters. It’s a routine our founder, Liz Earle, swears by, embracing the morning light before even glancing at a screen. Yet, for years we’ve been told to slather on the sunscreen and shield our eyes behind dark lenses as soon as we step outside.
But is this widespread advice helping or hindering our health? We decided to delve into the science and find out.
Are sunglasses bad for our health?
In a recent podcast episode with Dr Leiland Stillman, Liz discussed his perspective on how light impacts our eyes. According to Leiland, seasonal changes are a good indicator to our bodies as to how much energy and motivation we need to have. For Leiland, it would appear that modern life has extinguished these seasonal indicators with artificial light.
So do we need to be more mindful about how much we use our sunglasses, as well as screens and blue light? And can we really avoid damaging our eyes while seeking more sunlight?
The impact on melatonin
A study published in the National Library of Medicine examined the benefits of sunlight and revealed that our nocturnal melatonin production is far from robust.
“The light we get from being outside on a summer day can be a thousand times brighter than we’re ever likely to experience indoors,” says melatonin researcher Russel J. Reiter of the University of Texas Health Science Center. “For this reason, it’s important that people who work indoors get outside periodically, and moreover that we all try to sleep in total darkness. This can have a major impact on melatonin rhythms and can result in improvements in mood, energy, and sleep quality.”
A quick fix?
And it seems our penchant for indoor lifestyles and staying up long into the night may be hindering our health. The study reports that sunglasses may further limit the eyes’ access to full sunlight, altering melatonin rhythms. So, going shades-free in the daylight, even for just 10-15 minutes, could lead to significant health benefits.
Star Freud, Founder and Lead Wellness practitioner of Star Freud Wellness Clinic agrees and adds that most people tend to reach for quick fixes, such as sunglasses, to satisfy their desire for constant comfort.
“We are never taught to understand the basics of why our body is designed in the way it is,” she says. “Our eyes are an extension of our brain; the eyes are a sensory organ that accumulates external information from the outside of the body and communicates this to the brain.”
For Star, sunglasses act as an obstruction that limits the accuracy of information communicated to our brain – such as the amount of UV rays. “There is an increased risk of potentially sunburning as the brain wouldn’t have registered to produce melanin (melanin has several functions, one of which is to protect the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun),” she says.
“Not only is the sun good for your skin but it also offers us a free form of vitamin D. If we take a closer look at the eye, you’ll see there are tiny photosensitive cells in the retina that beam directly to your pituitary gland (located in your brain), which regulates your growth and reproductive cycles, under the direction of the hypothalamus. The stimulation of these cells play a vital role in optimising the physiology and health of your whole body.”
On the other side of the argument
However, before you ditch your shades completely, leading consultant ophthalmologist, Mr Alex Day, emphasises the importance of eye protection against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
“The sun’s UV rays can cause damage to the eyes, similar to how it affects the skin,” he says. “Whilst it’s common knowledge that sun damage causes accelerated skin ageing and skin cancer, it is less commonly realised that sun exposure increases the risk of various eye conditions, highlighting the need for preventive measures.”
For Alex, ultraviolet radiation is a cited as a risk factor for cataracts, pterygium and eyelid cancers. Cataracts, which is clouding of the natural lens of the eye, is a leading cause of vision impairment globally. UV exposure accelerates this clouding process by altering the protein structure in the lens, leading to its opacification.
The issue of skin cancer
What’s more, Alex suggests that UV light is a well-known risk factor for eyelid skin cancers including basal cell carcinoma and melanomas. The risk of developing these is reduced by simple measures such as avoiding prolonged sunlight exposure and using SPF and sunglasses.
Alex advocates for using high-quality sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays as a primary preventative measure.
“When selecting sunglasses, it is vital to ensure they offer full UV protection. Not all sunglasses are created equal, so always choose those from reputable brands,” he explains. “Wraparound styles are particularly effective as they protect the eyes from UV light entering from the side.”
Star feels that it’s important to note that those who feel the need to wear sunglasses all the time have most likely adapted to artificial light, which is an unbalanced spectrum of light and typically has excessive amounts of blue light compared to natural sunlight. “So when going outdoors it will feel extremely glary,” she says.
But Alex claims it’s crucial for everyone, regardless of age, to take proactive steps to protect their eyes. “Simple actions today can prevent serious issues in the future.”
What’s the verdict?
The relationship between sunlight and eye health is undeniably complex. While it’s clear that embracing natural light can offer numerous benefits, it’s equally important to be mindful of the potential risks. As with most aspects of wellbeing, balance is key. By understanding when to soak up the sun and when to shield our eyes, we can enjoy the best of both worlds. So, whether we’re an early riser like Liz or someone who spends more time indoors, making informed choices about our eye health will help us see the world more clearly – literally and figuratively.
Our conclusion? Early morning sun exposure (and early evening also) without sunglasses seems to be very beneficial, and getting our eyes used to being without sunglasses 24/7 is a potentially healthy habit. However, always protect the eyes from strong sunlight (i.e when we feel the need to squint) and be especially careful around reflected glare, such as sea, snow and and bright white places.
Words: Holly Treacy
