As winter slowly gives way to spring, we’re starting to enjoy longer days with more abundant sunshine, and we’re reveling in the warmth. While we encourage you to get outdoors and soak it all in, we caution you against leaving your eyes unprotected.
Here at Vision and Ortho-K Center, Dr. Curtis Frank and our team appreciate the power of corrective lenses in helping you to see more clearly, but we also urge you to consider lenses that protect your eyes against the sun.
Here, we explore the potential dangers of sun exposure when it comes to your eyes and how to best protect them.
When you head out into the sun, you might be diligent about wearing sunscreen, but don’t forget about protecting your eyes. The sun emits potentially harmful radiation in the form of ultraviolet (UV) rays, which can not only damage your skin, but also harm your eyes.
UV rays are linked to:
Taking a closer look at cataracts, one study found that UV light can damage the proteins in your lenses in such a way that encourages cataract formation, which is the leading cause of blindness worldwide.
We want to point out here that UV rays are present whether the sun is out or not, as this type of light can travel through the clouds. So, protecting your eyes anytime you’re outside is important.
In order to offset the risks of UV exposure, there are a few good rules of thumb when it comes to finding the right protection.
First, and foremost, make sure that you opt for lenses that feature 100% UV protection, which is also called UV400. Whether through your regular prescription glasses or through sunglasses alone, adding this layer of protection to your lenses is paramount.
Outside of protecting against UV ray exposure, you might also want to choose lenses that feature anti-glare coatings or go with polarized lenses. With reduced glare, your eyes are more comfortable and less fatigued.
Another point to consider is that the size of the lenses matter. Those cute, little glasses may look great, but they might not be covering all of your eye. Even if you have small corrective lenses with all of the right coatings, you should still consider getting a larger pair for when you’re outdoors.
We want to make one last point when it comes to protecting your eyes against the sun. Even with 100% UV protection you should never stare directly at the sun, as this protection simply isn’t enough to stand up to this type of direct contact. The same holds true for sunshine that reflects off the snow.
For expert guidance on protecting your eyes against the sun, contact our office in Boston, Massachusetts, to set up an appointment.
