Fall is in the air and yes, the leaves are quite Spec-takular.  Have you noticed the colors?  The reds and oranges are beautiful.  The golds are breathtaking as well.  It won't be long until the trees will lose their beauty and our lawns will be full of those colors.  As the leaves fall, I want to bring attention to a problem for both you and me.

 

Leaves absorb ultraviolet light in order to make energy for the trees to grow.  Without these leaves, UV light is free to reflect off multiple surfaces, bounce around and ultimately enter our eyes.  Did you know that UV and other radiation from the sun can harm your eyes?  Exposure to the sun's UV rays has been linked to eye damage, including cataracts, macular degeneration, pingueculae and pterygia.  New research suggests that the sun's high energy radiation (HEV) - also called  blue light - may increase your long term risk of developing devastating macular degeneration.

 

Anyone who spends hours outdoors is more at risk for developing these eye problems. The risks for UV and HEV exposure depends on several factors.  Geographic location - the closer you are to the earth's equator, the greater your risk.  Altitude - UV levels are greater at higher altitudes.  Time of day - UV and HEV levels are highest from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.  Setting - UV and HEV levels are greatest in wide open spaces, especially with reflective surfaces, like snow and sand.  Medications - certain medications like tetracycline, sulfa drugs, birth control pills, diuretics, and tranquilizers increase your body's sensitivity to UV and HEV radiation.
 
To protect your eyes from the harmful effects of UV and HEV rays, sunglasses should always be worn.  Make certain that the sunglasses block 100 percent of UV rays and also absorb most HEV rays.  Frames with a wraparound style provide the best protection because they limit the amount of stray light that reaches your eyes from above and beyond the periphery of your sunglass lenses.  Additionally, the amount of UV protection sunglasses provide is unrelated to the color and darkness of the lenses.  A light amber-colored lens can provide the same UV protection as a dark gray lens.  But, for HEV protection, color does matter.  Most sunglass lenses that block a significant amount of blue light will be bronze, copper, or reddish-brown.

We, at Spec-Takular, realize how important it is to wear protective sunglass eyewear.  For the entire month of November we are offering $100.00 off the purchase of a complete pair of prescription sun wear.  ($100.00 - per person) Come see our inventory and let us help protect your eyes from the harmful effects of UV and HEV rays. 
 
With the end of the year drawing closer, don't forget to spend those flex dollars.