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Why Is Watersports Eyewear Important?
Eyes are the second most complex organ after the brain and are responsible for 80% of all learning. Unlike most organs of the body, there is no procedure for eye transplants, so looking after our eyes really is an absolute necessity. The risk of UV radiation damage to our eyes is especially high on the water as UV light is scattered and reflected from surfaces. Snow, white water, boat surfaces and sand are all highly reflective.
If you are not using eyewear when you are out on the water, or you are using the wrong type of eyewear, the long term health of your eyes is at risk of harm. UV-A radiation can damage the macula, a part of the retina at the back of your eye, whereas UV-B radiation can damage the front of your eyes – like the cornea and lens. Macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygium, skin cancer and corneal sunburn all result from UV exposure and can lead to temporary or even permanent blindness. In addition to UV radiation, physical eye injury is a risk if your existing sunglasses are constructed of unsuitable materials.
In addition to protecting the long term health of your eyes, quality watersports eyewear will add to your enjoyment and enhance your performance on the water. By seeing more clearly with crisp and undistorted vision, you will also stay one step ahead of hazards and have greater awareness of your surroundings.
There are a number of physical and environmental factors that have an impact on the quality of your vision: (1) PHYSICAL CONDITIONS: Focusing ability, eye coordination, depth and colour perception, peripheral vision and, (2) ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS: wind, spray, reflected glare, humidity and moisture.
These physical and environmental factors can significantly influence the quality of your vision. So even if you have perfect eyesight, this is not the whole story and there is no guarantee that you are seeing everything that you should be seeing. You might even be making things worse if you are using eyewear that is unsuited to the activity you are doing. This is why it is so important to make informed choices about watersports eyewear, and why we have written the watersports eyewear guide.
We want you to make an informed decision so that you can rest assured that your eyes are well protected, while you get on with the business of doing what you do best on the water. Our Watersports Eyewear Guide provides an overview of all the key considerations that should be taken into account before you choose what to wear on the water.
Please take a moment to download our Eyewear Guide below.
Watersports Eyewear Guide
