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Everyone knows about the sun’s hazards for your skin, but sun exposure can do equal damage to your eyes. These same harmful ultraviolet rays that can cause skin cancer and premature aging can also increase your chances of developing eye problems, such as cataracts. Those who spend long hours in the sun and snow without adequate eye protection can develop photokeratitis – sunburn of the cornea. This condition can lead to temporary loss of vision, so if you’ve had too much sun exposure, it’s good to follow-up with an eye doctor in your area to determine the damage you may have done to your eyes. Common Eye Damage from Sun Exposure UV rays are invisible, so whether you are working or playing, your eyes are at risk when you are outside. Overexposure to these harmful rays can cause or enhance several eye ailments that can not be reversed. These can include:
• Cataracts – clouding of the eye that can lead to blurring or dim vision
• Pteryguim – tissue growth on the whites of the eyes
• Age-related macular degeneration – deterioration of the eye’s macula
When Sun Exposure is at its Worse for Eyes It’s not just during the summer months that we are at risk of eye damage from the sun, but the time of day that hold’s the greatest risk remains the same. From 10am to around 4pm, you’ll need extra protection for your eyes. Those that spend extended amounts of time in the sun for their jobs are at highest risk, lie farmers and fishermen. Tips for Shading Your Eyes from the Sun’s Rays Sunglasses with UV protection remain the most chosen way to protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. Scientists have divided the sun’s UV radiation into UVA (wavelength 320 to 400 nm) and UVB (wavelength 290 to 320nm). Sunglasses should block both forms of UV. Some believe that pricey sunglasses or those with darker tints offer the greatest protection, but that isn’t the case. Sunglasses labeled with 99 to 100 percent UV protection are what you would want to buy for maximum defense against harmful sunrays. You can also check with an eye doctor in your area to test your sunglasses, if you are unsure of their protection. Other tips for protecting your eyes include:
• Wearing a broad-brimmed hat
• Beware of snow, sand and concrete – these brighter areas allow the sun’s rays to bounce back into your eyes
• Regularly checking the UV index for your area – do so by logging onto the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency website
Save Your Eyes with the Best Sunglass Tint If you have chosen the darkest tinted sunglasses in hopes of protecting your eyes, you should think again. Sunglasses should be dark enough to reduce glare, but not so dark that they distort colors. For best color perception and UV protection, choose sunshades that are:
• Neutral gray
• Amber
• Brown
• Green
Those who wear contact lenses with UV protection will also need to wear sunglasses for protection. While contact lenses that have UV protection help, they simply don’t offer enough. To learn more about how the impact the sun may have on your eyes, please visit www.eyes.com to find an eye doctor near you.
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