Importance of wearing sunglasses?

Wearing sunglasses is crucial for protecting your eyes from excessive light exposure and UV rays, which can potentially cause harm over time. Andrew Huberman explains that sunglasses significantly reduce the amount of light, including UV light, reaching your retina. This can be particularly important when driving into direct sunlight or for individuals with heightened light sensitivity. However, he also notes that wearing sunglasses might reduce the overall light exposure more than necessary, which could affect the lux count that is important for various physiological functions 1.

Additionally, sunglasses help block UV light, which has known adverse effects on the skin and eyes, such as accelerating cataract formation and potentially damaging the retina over the long term. Therefore, while they may reduce certain wavelengths of light needed for optimal health, they are crucial for preventing direct damage from UV radiation 2 3.