Prescription Motorcycle Glasses

Here Comes the Sun: Another Reason to Invest In Motorcycle Riding Glasses

Spring is on its way, and with it comes the bright, beautiful sunshine and warmer weather we have all been waiting for. This means more gorgeous-weather days, and in turn, more bike rides for anyone who owns a motorcycle. 

While this amazing time of year is highly anticipated, and while it is quite wonderful, it does come with its fair share of downsides. Therefore, there are a few things you will want to protect yourself from before you ever head out on the road. For instance, allergies are a big problem during the spring. Additionally, sunburns tend to run rampant during this time of year as people become accustomed to applying sunscreen once more. A third issue that is commonly dealt with in the spring is sunlight in the eyes.

If you are not already wearing safety glasses, or if your current eyeglasses are not made to protect against UV rays, you will have a very difficult time with the latter of those issues above. After all, nobody likes riding with the sun in their face, and sometimes doing so is downright dangerous. Glare can make it difficult to see what is coming ahead, squinting can cause distracting headaches, and there are a whole host of eye problems that can be caused by exposure to sunlight.

Here are several of the negative effects that can be experienced if riding without proper sun protection for your eyes:

1. Poor Visibility — One of the most obvious—and perhaps the most dangerous—problem caused by failure to wear safety glasses is poor visibility. The sun has the potential to cause a large amount of glare, which can create problems for motorcycle riders when it comes to seeing what is ahead of them on the road. Brake lights of surrounding vehicles become hard to see through the bright light being reflected off of them, and sometimes the brightest spots of sunlight can block a vehicle from vision entirely. Obviously, this could easily lead to a severe accident, something every biker wants to avoid.
2. Headaches — Glare from the sun causes motorcycle riders to squint in order to protect their eyes from the bright light. Unfortunately, squinting for long periods of time leads to tension in the face and head. In turn, this tension has a tendency to cause severe headaches, distracting motorcyclists from focusing on their riding, and often requiring riders to miss work and other important obligations.
3. Cataracts — These are the number one cause of blindness in the world and a problem that affects over 22 million people in the United States. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens. Cataracts have a variety of causes, including exposure to ultraviolet rays, diabetes, and smoking. They may cause a person to have hazy or blurred vision, and can cause lights to seem overly bright and glaring. Cataracts do worsen over time, and can lead to complete or partial loss of vision.
4. Macular Degeneration — An issue caused by too much sun exposure, poor diet, and a variety of other factors, macular degeneration is—as the name suggests—deterioration of the macula, an important part of the eye. This degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss in the senior population in US. This type of vision loss is permanent and can be experienced as a full loss of vision or as blind spots when looking at objects directly ahead.
5. Pingueculae — Pingueculae are non-cancerous, raised, yellowish bumps on the white of the eye. They are typically caused by exposure to sunlight but can also be caused by excessive dust or debris in the eye. These little bumps do not always cause symptoms; however, the symptoms they can cause include dry eye, itchiness, and irritation. Occasionally, removal surgery may be considered if a pinguecula becomes overly bothersome.
6. Pterygia — Commonly known as “Surfer’s Eye”, pterygia (plural of pterygium) are small, non-cancerous growths on the eye which can cause blurry vision and irritation. Additionally, these little growths have the potential to cause permanent disfigurement of the eye. Pterygia are caused by extended and excessive exposure to sunlight, wind, and dust. They can usually be treated with eye drops, but will occasionally require surgical removal.
7. Photokeratitis — Photokeratitis, also known as ultraviolet keratitis, occurs when the cornea becomes sunburned. Symptoms include discomfort, blurred vision, and light sensitivity. Additionally, the condition can cause temporary blindness often referred to as “snow blindness”. Fortunately, photokeratitis almost always heals without treatment. However, artificial tears may be used in addition to ibuprofen or acetaminophen in order to relieve some of the pain.

As you can see, protecting your eyes from the sun’s harsh rays is very important to your health and well-being. Doing so will help ensure your vision remains sharp and clear for a long time to come. Therefore, it is crucial that you find some quality motorcycle riding glasses before the nice spring riding weather begins.

Not sure where to find the best riding glasses? We have an amazing selection right here on our website! Whether you prefer the stylish look and ease-of-use offered by glasses or the comfort and snug fit of a pair of goggles, we are sure to have something that will be perfect for your sunny day riding purposes.

Not only will our glasses and goggles protect you from the sun’s harmful rays, they also protect your eyes from dust and debris and make riding in the rain a bit easier. All of these things make motorcycle eyewear an absolute must-have for both safety and comfort.