Why glare is more than a nuisance

If you live with glaucoma, you may already know that bright light can feel sharper and more intrusive than it once did. Many people describe halos around headlights and streetlamps, a washed-out feeling when the sun is low, or the sense that they need to screw up their eyes far more often than they used to. Some of this comes down to changes in the eye itself, and some to the drops used to lower eye pressure, which can leave eyes feeling dry, gritty or unusually sensitive to light.

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation matters too. It plays a part in cataract formation, in growths on the surface of the eye, and in skin cancers around the eyelids. For anyone protecting their sight for the long term, managing sun and glare is not vanity — it is part of everyday eye care.

What to look for in a good pair of sunglasses

Price is a poor guide here. What counts is the labelling and the fit. In the UK, look for the CE or UKCA mark and a reference to EN ISO 12312-1, which confirms the lenses meet a recognised standard for UV protection. Ideally you want UV400, meaning the lenses block the vast majority of UVA and UVB.

• Check the whole lens. Dark tints without proper UV blocking can actually be worse than nothing, because the pupil widens behind a dark lens and lets more UV through.
• Think about wrap-around styles. Light creeping in from the sides is often what causes the most discomfort. Frames that hug the face or have thicker side arms make a real difference.
• Lens category matters. Category 2 suits most British conditions, category 3 works well on bright days and for driving. Category 4 lenses are very dark and must not be worn while driving.
• Consider tint colour. Grey keeps colours true, brown and amber lift contrast, and green sits somewhere in between. There is no single best choice — comfort is personal.
• Polarised lenses cut reflected glare from water, wet roads and car bonnets. They are brilliant for driving and for time near the coast, though some people find they make certain screens look odd.

Hats, shade and the simple things

A wide-brimmed hat, a bucket hat or even a cap with a decent peak shades the eyes far more effectively than most people expect. Combined with sunglasses, it reduces the amount of light reaching the eye from above and the side, and it protects the delicate skin around the eyelids at the same time.

• Seek shade between roughly 11am and 3pm in the summer months, when UV levels in the UK are at their highest.
• Remember that UV passes through cloud, and that it reflects off water, sand, pale paving and snow.
• Never look directly at the sun, including during an eclipse, with or without sunglasses.
• Keep a spare pair of sunglasses in the car and another by the back door — glare is far easier to manage when protection is within reach.

Tinted, polarised and prescription options

If you already wear glasses, you have several routes. Prescription sunglasses give you clear vision and full UV protection in one pair. Photochromic lenses darken automatically outdoors and are convenient for changing light, although they rely on UV to activate, so they tend to stay fairly clear behind a car windscreen. Fit-over styles sit over your everyday glasses and are a practical, inexpensive option for the garden or a walk.

An anti-reflective coating is worth asking about, both for sunglasses and for indoor glasses. It reduces the reflections that bounce off the back of the lens and into your eye, which many people with light sensitivity find surprisingly helpful. If glare is troubling you indoors as well as out, mention it at your next appointment — tinted lenses for computer use or for bright interiors can sometimes be arranged.

Everyday habits for bright days

Small adjustments add up. A clean windscreen, inside and out, dramatically reduces the smear of glare from low sun, and pulling down the sun visor is quicker than reaching for glasses at the wheel. Keep your eye drops somewhere cool and out of direct sunlight, and follow the storage advice on the label. If your eyes feel dry, treat that too — dryness makes glare feel considerably worse, so lubricating drops prescribed or recommended for you can improve comfort noticeably.

Indoors, position your screen so that windows are to the side rather than behind or in front of you, and use a lamp rather than overhead lighting when reading. A regular break from screens, with a few slow blinks, helps keep the surface of the eye comfortable.

When to get your eyes checked

Regular sight tests are the foundation of glaucoma care, since the condition often causes no symptoms until sight has already been affected. In the UK, NHS sight tests are free for people over 40 with a close relative who has glaucoma, and for others in defined groups. If you notice new or worsening halos, sudden sensitivity to light, eye pain, redness or any change in your vision, contact your eye care team promptly rather than waiting for a routine appointment.

Protecting your eyes from sun and glare is a simple, everyday habit that supports everything else you do to look after your sight. With the right sunglasses, a hat and a little planning, you can stay comfortable outdoors in almost any weather.