Spectacles, commonly known as glasses, are a type of visual eyewear that consists of lenses fixed in a frame that holds them in front of a person’s eyes, with a bridge over the nose and hinged arms (called temples) that rest over the ears.

Importance of Spectacles:

Spectacles/glasses are commonly used for vision correction, but they also protect your eyes from digital devices and keep dirt and dust out of your eyes. Additionally, they can shield your eyes from dangerous UV radiation. Spectacles, unlike contact lenses, are simple to put on and take off. They’re also occasionally used for cosmetic purposes.

Spectacles are important for a variety of reasons:

1. Improving your Vision

Spectacles are required to improve your vision if you have any of the following issues:

• Nearsightedness/Myopia: A condition where you can easily see close things, but objects further away appear hazy.
• Farsightedness/Hyperopia: Objects in the distance appear distinct, whereas objects closer to the eye appear hazy.
• Astigmatism: Blurred or distorted vision is caused by an issue with the shape of your cornea or lens.
• Presbyopia: It is an age-related condition in which your eyes lose their capacity to focus on items that are close to them.

If your eyesight is blurry, spectacles can help by focusing light on the correct areas of your retina improving your vision and your quality of life.

 

2. Safety / Eye protection

Spectacles are used for the safety of your eyes. They provide eye protection against flying debris e.g., for construction workers or lab technicians. Some forms of safety glasses are used to shield against light or radiation. Spectacles are also worn for eye protection in some sports, such as squash.

3. Protection from UV light

Sunglasses improve eyesight in broad daylight and may protect the eyes from damage caused by excessive UV light.

• Sunglasses lenses are tinted or polarized to decrease glare in bright light.
• When exposed to UV radiation, photochromatic glasses become slightly tinted or blacked out in the dark or indoors, then turn into sunglasses when exposed to UV light.
• One of the most frequent malignancies is skin cancer and the eyelids are affected by 10% of all skin cancers. Unfortunately, because this delicate area of your body may be susceptible to regular sunscreen, protecting it from harmful UV rays becomes challenging. Polarized sun lenses, on the other hand, protect your eyes and eyelids from horizontal glare, which can cause fatal eye disorders like macular degeneration.

Most sunglasses are not corrective but your Optometrist can help you get special prescription sunglasses.

4. Spectacles are Affordable

Despite popular assumptions, spectacles are more affordable than ever before. You can obtain high-quality glasses at a reasonable price that will help you restore your vision.

 

5. Spectacles are safer than Contact Lenses

When choosing between eyeglasses and contacts, there are several reasons why eyeglasses may be the best decision.

• They can protect eyes from trauma. When taking a walk, playing outside, or mowing the lawn, glasses can provide some protection from typical irritants like dust, sand, grass, or even insects.
• Sunglasses and even some types of eyewear can have lenses that protect the eyes from dangerous UV rays.
• Glasses are more convenient to wear than contacts since they require less cleaning and maintenance, are more comfortable to wear, and have a lesser likelihood of being lost.
• Contact lenses are susceptible to infection while there is no such problem with spectacles.

 

6. Spectacles are Fashionable

Eyeglasses allow you to express your style and individuality. Eyeglass frames are available in a wide range of shapes and colors, so switching up your look is as simple as trying on a new pair. You may keep up with the latest fashion lines by upgrading your frames, or you can preserve your style by matching your frames to your favorite clothing items.

 

7. Blue Light Glasses reduce eye strain

With excessive use of digital devices and screens, it is important to get blue light blocking glasses for the following reasons:

• More restful sleep

Melatonin is a sleep-inducing hormone that begins to circulate in your body a few hours before bedtime. Using a tablet or other screen before bed can cause this release to be delayed, making it difficult to fall asleep quickly. If you can’t switch off your smartphone an hour or two before bedtime, as recommended by sleep experts, blue light spectacles could help you sleep better.

• Reduced eye strains

You may develop eye and muscle strain from staring at a screen all day. This eye strain can be reduced by wearing blue-light-blocking glasses. These glasses improve contrast on your screen, making it simpler to focus and reducing eye strain as a result.

• Fewer headaches

Light, particularly blue light, can aggravate headaches, discomfort and trigger migraines. Blue light-blocking glasses may help to lessen migraine attacks, also headaches, and suffering.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) and the College of Optometrists (UK) do not recommend wearing blue-blocking spectacle lenses to improve visual performance, relieve symptoms of eye fatigue or discomfort, improve sleep quality, or protect the macula. However, some users report benefits, and some eye doctors agree that they do, at least in terms of lowering eye strain.

Conclusion:

There are numerous more reasons to wear spectacles/eyeglasses, and the goal is to protect your eyes. Because your eyes are the sole organ that allows you to see things, you must take exceptional care of them. To know more about the importance of eyewear, you can visit your Optometrist for guidance and consultation.