Maybe we have sunglasses all backwards
I was out recently at a kids playground with some family and friends, and one of the kids was proudly sporting some cool sunglasses. What’s wrong with this picture?
A dermatologist told a friend of mine that she should use sunblock every day to protect her skin. What’s wrong with this picture?
We have forgotten that the sun is the source of health. Our skin and eyes need the full spectrum of sunlight to produce melanin, the pigment which protects us from burns. Sunshine on our skin is needed to make Vitamin D, which helps our immune system.
Sunglasses alter the spectrum of light which hits the eyes, removing the UV frequencies and other beneficial wavelengths.
Natural Light Hitting Your Bare Eyes Critically Effects Hormones
Morning sun exposure, when it includes natural daylight hitting your retina without glass in-between, will activate the pituitary gland in your brain behind your eyes. The pituitary gland then secretes crucial hormones such as: Estradiol, Dopamine, Adrenalin, Seratonin, Melantonin, Thyroid-stimulating hormones (TSH), Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinising hormone (LH), and Prolactin (PRL).
Most indoor lighting has a profile which is skewed toward the blue end and misses out on key wavelengths. This impacts our nighttime production of melatonin.
Get Outside and Look Up
Get at least 50 minutes a day of sunlight (or daylight if the sun is not out) on your skin and eyes. Start slowly and build up the time can safely spend in the sun. Start with morning and evening when there is less chance of sunburn.
Expose as much skin as possible and don’t use glasses. Look at the sky or out into the open. Do not look directly at the sun.
If you are skiing or in the desert, by all means wear eye protection. But if you need sunglasses at your average beach on a sunny day, this is a sign of weak vision. It is wise to start to slowly train your eyes again to cope with brighter light.
Bottom Line? Try to wean yourself off sunglasses if possible, and get lots of natural sunlight. Avoid sunscreen (or use only when absolutely needed). Wear blue-light blocking glasses at night to protect your eyes from screens. Dim your lights in the evening to prepare your body for sleep.
Want to learn more https://www.vitalveda.com.au/learn/circadian-medicine/sunglasses/
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