Sun and UV Protection for Your Eyes

 

Sun and UV Protection for Your Eyes

When spending time outside, many people take a moment to protect their skin from the sun. It is common to put on sunscreen or wear something that helps to cover the skin to avoid sunburn. These steps are important to avoid sun damage on the skin, but are you also being proactive to protect your eyes?

UV Exposure and Eye Health

Did you know that UV exposure can impact the risk of eye disease? If you want to protect your vision, then you need to make sure that you are limiting the UV exposure for your eyes. It has been found that UV light might be associated with a higher risk of eye growths, cataracts, and even eye cancer.

In severe cases, it is even possible to experience blindness because of sunlight exposure. When snow reflection is strong, it can cause fast and painful damage to the eyes because of the extreme brightness.

People who spend a lot of time outside, such as skiers, farmers, surfers, or fishermen often experience eye growths called pterygium. This eye condition usually appears earlier in life, during the teens or twenties.

Later in life, UV related diseases might include eye cancer or cataracts. These eye diseases can be associated with UV exposure, but the symptoms take the time to develop. So, it is important to protect the health of your eyes at all stages of your life to avoid problems in the later years.

How to Protect Your Eyes from UV Exposure

The best way to keep your eyes protected is to stay covered up. Wear sunglasses with UV protection to shield your eyes from the UV rays and the sun. Many people wear cheap sunglasses without realizing that they don’t have the UV protection needed to help them avoid serious eye diseases.

It is also a good idea to wear a hat when you are spending time outside. Hats are beneficial for children or anyone who doesn’t like to wear sunglasses. For optimal protection, you should wear both a hat and sunglasses together.

Remember, the UV damage adds up over time. So, if you are spending time outside, then you need to take a proactive approach to protecting your eyes and avoid sun damage. Even if the weather outside is cold, you still need to cover up. UV exposure can occur during any time of year. Cloudy days can be deceiving because you don’t see the bright sun. But, the sun’s rays can still pass through the thin clouds and haze.

One other tip to protect your eyes from the sun is to avoid a direct gaze into the sunlight. Even during an eclipse, it is dangerous to look directly at the sun without protection. The sunlight can cause solar retinopathy, which is a situation when the retina in the eye is damaged from the radiation from the sun.

High-Quality Sunglasses

The easiest way to keep your eyes protected is to wear a high-quality pair of sunglasses. Instead of picking up a cheap pair at a random store, it is better to talk with your eye doctor about the right pair of glasses for your individual needs. Here at Village Eyecare, we offer different sunglasses to help you keep your eyes protected. Contact us to learn more about the options that are available.