# the sun and cateracts. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [February 22, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sun-and-cateracts/681930 "2014-02-22T02:53:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![woodwork](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/ecae2f/32.png) [@woodwork](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/woodwork)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sun-and-cateracts/681930/1 "2014-02-22T02:53:49Z")
Question people that drive into cities from the West in the morning, into the sunrise and back home, from the East into the sunlight in the afternoon… compared to those who drive from the East with there backs to the sun both ways. My guess is there will be a significant margin of lens and retina damage to the folks who drive into the sun everyday. Just a thought. * * * LINK TO COLUMN: [Do fluorescent lights cause cataracts? - The Straight Dope](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/1105/do-fluorescent-lights-cause-cataracts) ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 4:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sun-and-cateracts/681930/2 "2014-02-22T04:34:54Z")
Maybe, except can haz sunglasses and sun visors in cars. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 5:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sun-and-cateracts/681930/3 "2014-02-22T05:29:38Z")
And windshields do a good job of blocking U.V. That’s why photochromic lenses don’t work we’ll for driving. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [February 22, 2014, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sun-and-cateracts/681930/4 "2014-02-22T15:17:03Z")
MODERATOR COMMENT: Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **woodwork** , we’re glad you’ve found us. For future ref: when you (or anyone) start a threat, it’s helpful to other readers to provide a link to the column under discussion. Saves searching time, and helps avoid repetition (keeps us sort of on the same page.) No problem, I’ve added a link to what I think was the column you were considering – if I got it wrong, please let me know and I’ll fix it. So, you’ll know for next time, and, as I say, welcome indeed! ---
**Author:** ![Athabasca](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Athabasca](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athabasca)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 10:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sun-and-cateracts/681930/5 "2014-03-02T22:31:45Z")
> [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](#): > > MODERATOR COMMENT: Welcome to the Straight Dope Message Boards, **woodwork** , we’re glad you’ve found us. For future ref: when you (or anyone) start a threat…! I guess this is a time when the 5 min rule could be stretched a bit for editing? :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Kenm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/bc79bd/32.png) [@Kenm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kenm)\ **Post date:** [March 2, 2014, 10:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-sun-and-cateracts/681930/6 "2014-03-02T22:49:47Z")
> [@woodwork](#): > > My guess is there will be a significant margin of lens and retina damage to the folks who drive into the sun everyday. As has been noted above, car glass cuts down on UV a good deal. My glasses still darken about half as much, though, as when I’m outside but not in a car. There’s probably more UV eye damage in snowy areas of the world. I quit using permanently tinted prescription sunglasses about 20 years ago. I always forgot or lost them, and having the protection is too important.