Now that the air’s getting chillier and temperatures are dropping, winter enthusiasts can look forward to traveling to their long-awaited destinations. For starters, it’s the best time to plan a ski trip, with a great number of luxurious and adventurous options here in the United States and across Europe. These ski resorts range from large areas like Utah’s Park City Mountain Resort, which has stunning mountain peaks and hundreds of trails, to the beginner-friendly Baqueira Beret, Spain, with 87% of its slopes being rated as easy and intermediate.
However, as you pack your winter coats and jackets, you must remember to also bring essentials for sun protection. A survey by the American Academy of Dermatology reveals that nearly one in five adults are unaware that you need sun protection even in winter, as the sun’s ultraviolet rays can be reflected by snow, water, and sand. Prolonged UV exposure can then affect not only your skin but also your eyes, increasing the risk of painful eye conditions like photokeratitis or snow blindness.
So, in addition to applying sunscreen to prevent sunburn and skin damage, make sure to shield your eyes from the winter sun for long-term vision health. Here are ways to choose the right sunglasses for your next winter trip.
Select a pair with 100% UV protection
Sun safety always starts with choosing UV-protective sunglasses. To determine whether your chosen pair of sunglasses can protect you from harmful UV rays, look for a label that says 100% UV protection. In some cases, eyewear brands will indicate UV protection as UV400, which essentially means the lenses can block UVA and UVB rays with wavelengths of up to 400 nanometers. Lastly, sunglasses from European brands like Persol and Prada bear the CE mark, which signifies conformity with the European Union’s safety standards.
Consider your vision and lifestyle needs
If you wear glasses to correct vision problems like nearsightedness and astigmatism, take that into account when choosing your sunglasses to ensure sun safety and clear vision while walking through winter travel destinations like Berlin and Luxembourg. The retailer LensCrafters showcases a wide range of prescription sunglasses, from classic styles like the Ray-Ban RB2210 to fashionable frames like the Gucci GG0022S shades. In addition to simply uploading a copy of your prescription, you can use the retailer’s virtual try-on option to see how your frames fit you. Meanwhile, those planning to integrate winter sports like skiing or snowboarding into their travels can benefit from polarized sunglasses, which improve safety and visibility by reducing glare from reflective surfaces like snow.
Look into protective lens coatings
Lastly, don’t forget to do your research on protective lens coatings that help ensure your sunglasses will stay durable throughout your winter trip. Whether you plan to ski in the Alps or try snow sledding in Sapporo, Japan, consider getting sunglasses with impact-resistant lenses. A popular example is the Oakley Flex Scape, which combines the functionality of goggles and sunglasses for vision protection and athletic performance. Besides a flexible and ergonomic design that adapts to the wearer’s needs, the hybrid eyewear’s lenses feature a proprietary Plutonite material and Oakley’s HDO (High-Definition Optics) Technology for optimal protection against high-velocity impact.
As you consider these factors when choosing your sunglasses for winter, make sure to practice other eye care tips, like staying hydrated and sleeping well, for optimal eye health not only during your travels but also in the long term.