Why horse riders should wear sports sunglasses / eyewear

 
Not all riders wear sunglasses / eyewear. This is probably because there has never been a ‘tradition’ of riders wearing sunglasses and some are concerned about what would happen if they fell – could the eyewear damage them? However the majority of sports sunglasses and certainly all models in this section have impact resistant, shatterproof polycarbonate lenses – these lenses will not shatter or break.
 
There are two big reasons why riders should wear sunglasses:
Firstly, riders can spend a lot of time outdoors and sports sunglasses will protect eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation (UVR), in particular the more-damaging UVB radiation. UV rays from sunlight can damage the retina and the lens of the eye. Too much exposure is linked to conditions like cataracts, cancer of the eye lids and age-related macular degeneration. Good quality UV400 rated sunglasses filter out over 99% of harmful UVR.
Secondly, sports style, wrap around style sunglasses give plenty of eye protection to keep out insects, grit, dirt, stone chippings, wind, rain or a stray tree branch.
What sunglass features should riders look out for?
– Straight or near straight temples (arms) are more suited to wearing with helmets.
– Non slip nose pads and temples tips will keep the sunglasses in place. If need be you can also wear a cord grip/retainer (see our accessories section)
– Rimless, frameless models and half frame models are good so that nothing interferes with vision when looking down.
– Lens colours will depend on weather conditions and the terrain or surroundings. Brown and Amber lens are versatile adding contrast (sharpening the field of vision). Clear and Yellow lenses are good in dull / poor light or riding in wooded or shaded areas; they are also ideal for riding indoors under artificial light. Rose or Orange lenses are high definition colours and will be good if riding on sand. Opting for an interchangeable model that comes with 3 or 4 lenses will give you the option to choose different lenses for different conditions.