Do I need sunglasses with UV-filtering contact lenses?

For seasoned contact lens wearers, it's probably not news that many of today's modern contact lenses come with UV filters. However, many wonder if this means sunglasses are no longer necessary or if wearing them is still essential.

You can also find such contact lenses equipped with UV filters at eOpticians. However, it's important to know that this UV-filtering capability only holds up under normal, not overly intense sunlight conditions. To filter out strong sunlight and UV radiation, it's important to use other methods as well.

Even with UV-filtering contact lenses, wear sunglasses!

While contact lenses only cover your cornea, sunglasses protect the entire eye and the area around it - plus, they are equipped with much stronger filters. And why is protection so important?

Strong UV radiation can damage not only the skin but also the eyes. UV-B is generally more harmful because it carries more energy, but much of it is absorbed by the cornea and the eye lens. UV-A radiation has less energy, but it is less absorbed by the front tissues of the eye, so it can cause damage inside the eye, such as temporary "blindness," pterygium, cataracts, and even cancer on the eyelid skin or in the eye itself.

So don't take risks, even if you have UV-filtering contact lenses, it's better to wear a high-quality, stylish pair of sunglasses!