We all know the importance of using sunscreen
to protect our skin from the sun’s harmful rays, but what about protection for
our eyes?
July is UV Safety Month and eye doctors
across the nation are urging Americans to protect their eyes and their
children’s eyes by wearing sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats.
Recent studies have shown that prolonged
exposure to the sun’s invisible, high energy ultraviolet rays without
protection may cause eye conditions that can lead to vision loss, such as
cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. During the summer months the
level of ultraviolet radiation is three times greater than in the winter.
Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are the best
defense system for your eyes against sunlight and harmful UV rays. To be
effective, both must be worn every time you’re outside for prolonged periods of
time, even when it’s overcast.
But what type of sunglasses should you buy?
The most important thing is to purchase sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent
of UV-A and UV-B ray. Don’t be misled by the color of the lens or the price tag
dangling from the frame.
The ability to block UV light is not
dependent on the darkness of the lens. UV protection can come from adding
chemicals to the lens material during manufacturing or from a chemical coating
applied to the lens surface. And as for the cost, many $10 sunglasses provide
equal or greater protection than a $100 pair. With expensive sunglasses, you’re
paying for style, frame quality and options such as scratch-resistant coatings,
and not necessarily protective UV ray blocking ability.
In addition to the damage caused by repeated
sun exposure overtime, you need to protect your eyes from acute damage caused
by a single day in the sun. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light reflected
off sand, snow or pavement can burn the eye’s surface. Similar to sunburns, eye
surface burns usually disappear within a couple of days, but may lead to
further complications later in life.
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