5 Reasons You Should Wear Sunglasses in Autumn

Shorter days and cooler weather can sometimes lull us into a false sense of security when it comes to our eyes. We tend to think that when there is not direct sunlight beating down on us or we’re not squinting when we walk outside that we don’t need eye protection. The truth is autumn light can be even more damaging to our eyes than the summer sun. Here’s five reasons why you should keep those sunglasses handy and keep wearing them even as the seasons change.

Here are 5 reasons you should wear sunglasses in autumn:

1. Low Autumn Sun

Autumn sun is lower in the sky. Big deal, right? Well this one seems a little counter-intuitive at first, but makes sense when you think about it. When the sun is higher overhead, it doesn’t have a straight shot to your eyes unless you are looking straight up. Most of the damage comes when it bounces off stuff like water or really clean cars. When the sun’s lower in the sky and closer to the horizon, it has a much more direct path towards your eyes and exposure to UV rays dramatically increases. Don’t worry though, all it takes is a pair of high-quality lenses to keep those harmful rays from beaming directly into your sensitive sight centers. We offer all kinds of lenses with 100% UV protection.

2. Glare

The lower angle of the sun this time of year also creates brutal glare. Without bringing geometry into this, just trust us that a shallow fall sun beams a lot more glare your way than a summer sun. Glare can cause temporary blindness and make your daily commute much more treacherous. Luckily, there are lens options out there that do a great job of dealing with mid or flat light and glare all at the same time. Our brown lenses are very popular for this time of year since they are polarized to block out glare, yet still let in enough light to see well in less sunny or cloudy conditions.

3. The Elements

With fall usually comes less humidity (unless you’re in the NW) and more wind. These elements evaporate away precious moisture and can do a real number on the delicate skin around your eyes. And unless you’re in the eye drop business, this is a major inconvenience. Sunglasses provide full coverage and protection to keep the unfriendly elements out and lenses in the lighter shade ranges, like our light grey lenses, still get the job done even when it’s not particularly bright out.

4. Bugs

Even in autumn, bugs are still around and just waiting to splat into a wide open eye when you least expect it. This is especially true when you’re a cyclist, a motorcyclist or a runner and an element of speed is factored into the equation. Just like your car needs a windshield, your eyes need protection too. If you’re usually out in low light, consider clear lenses or even bump up the contrast with yellow or rose-tinted lenses tinted lenses.

5. Coolness Factor

Picture a person. Any person. Now picture that same person in sunglasses. Instantly cooler, right? Sunglasses just look cool. It’s a well-documented fact. Gentleman’s Journal, Forbes and Bono all agree. The right eyewear is stylish and serves the equally important purpose of protecting your eyes.