Be Aware of the Dangers of UV for Your Eyes

 

Due to campaigns to create awareness of the hazards of Ultraviolet (UV) exposure to your skin, (including sunburn and skin cancer), most are familiar with the need for using sunblock and avoiding direct contact with the sun when spending time in the sun. But did you know that ultraviolet rays and other radiation from the sun are also a threat to your eyes?

If you are considering going outside without proper eye protection, reconsider. Continual contact with harmful UV rays has been shown to cause damage to the eye.

Risks of UV Eye Exposure

Exposure to excessive quantities of ultraviolet radiation over a short amount of time is known to cause photokeratitis or a ''sunburn of the eye'', which results in pain, blurred vision or even temporary blindness. Long-term UV exposure can result in more serious eye diseases including cataracts, macular degeneration, and others, which can cause vision loss. Just like the real sun, tanning beds pose a substantial threat of overexposure to UV.

UV Eye Protection

To protect your eyes from threatening UV rays, you should be careful to only purchase sunglasses that completely block all UV rays. Look for sunglasses that specify they are ''UV 400'', which indicates that they prevent all UV light from entering your eyes (400 refers to the wavelength of light in nanometers).

The size of your sunglasses is also important. Sunglasses with side protection can block dangerous UV light from coming in through the rear of the sunglasses.

It's not necessary to empty your pockets to have proper UV protection, but you should not make a purchase until you are sure the sunglasses give full UV coverage. More and more manufacturers recognize the importance of offering proper UV defense. The great news is that in addition to keeping your eyes protected from the harmful sunlight, stylish sunglasses are in style, so pick up a pair (or two) and let the sun shine down!

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