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The Sun and Its Effects on Your Eyes

 

You're probably already well aware of the damage the sun can do to your skin. But what about the damage it can cause your precious eyes?

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Fact 1

Sunlight is at its most intense between the hours of 10 in the morning to 2 in the afternoon. Between these hours, there is high risk of ultraviolet exposure.

Fact 2

Just like darker skin tones provide more protection against the sun than fairer skin tones, darker eye colours afford slightly more protection against the sun than light-coloured eyes. Still, sunglasses with proper UV protection are important for everyone.

Fact 3

Excessive exposure to UV rays in your early childhood is particularly harmful to your eyes, possibly only showing up later in life.

Fact 4

UV-rays are significantly concentrated in areas of high reflected light, such as snow-covered mountains, high altitudes, reflective bodies of water (lakes, rivers, and the sea) and sandy beaches.

Fact 5

Cloud cover does not necessarily provide protection from UV rays, and in some cases may actually increase the level of UV radiation - as some types of cloud cover may reflect light.

Fact 6

Temperature does not give an indication of UV intensity. UV intensity can even be high in winter in alpine regions due to factors such as altitude and reflected light from snow.

Fact 7

Certain drugs can make your eyes, and even your skin, more photosensitive. This sensitivity to sunlight means your eyes are more prone to sun-related damage.

Fact 8

If you're a fair-haired, light-eyed, smoking Caucasian female, you're in the high-risk category for sun damage to the eyes. But really, that doesn't mean that the rest of us have any cause to be complacent.

Read on for tips on protecting your eyes from the damaging effects of the sun.

  • Not all sunglasses are created equal. An effective pair of sunglasses should be able to block out both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Pick large lenses that fit close to the eyes. Even with sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection, sunlight can still reach the eyes through the sides of the sunglasses. Aviator glasses – the ones that wrap all the way around the temples – are the best for keeping out sunlight from the sides.
  • Expensive designer sunglasses or polarizing lenses are not necessarily guaranteed to be effective against the harmful rays of the sun.
  • Even children need to wear sunglasses – and not toy sunglasses! Like your skin, most of the sun damage to your eyes is accrued in a person's early developmental years. So sun protection is vital for young people.
  • On particularly hot days, or when you're vacationing at the beach, wear a hat with a wide brim to block out sunlight from overhead.
  • There is growing evidence that what you eat, may impact the health of your eye. In particular lutein, a carotenoid that functions as an antioxidant, is thought to be deposited in the areas of the body that may be prone to free radical damage. This could include the macula (the part of the eye that enables accurate vision and helps protect the retina at the back of your eye). You could almost say that lutein may function as natural sunglasses!!!

 

WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with developing eye disorders and age related eye diseases. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-Blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation.
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