Bright outdoor light can cause your eyes to instinctively
squint or tear, a natural defense against the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV)
rays. Sun protection for your skin is prevalent as the dangers of skin exposure
to UV rays is well-known. But the effects of the sun on the eyes can be just as
overwhelming if they aren't protected.
What Diseases Can I
Get?
UV damage to the eye can result in multiple diseases, such
as: cataracts, skin cancer on your eyelids, and macular degeneration. The two
unique types of UV rays affect different parts of the eye. UVA rays penetrate
all the way to the back of the eye, while UVB rays tend to cause damage to the
cornea and lens.
Using Prevention
In order to prevent damage to the eyes, it is necessary to
wear either proper glasses or a wide brimmed hat that covers your face.
Different sunglasses have different UV classifications, and it is preferable to
obtain sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection. At a minimum, your
sunglasses should be at least UV400.
Avoid using tints in colors: yellow, pink, or blue. These
colors do not fully protect the eyes from the sun. Darker tints are better, but
some dark tints are illegal to drive with in some countries.
Kids Need Protection
Too
It is estimated that three out of every four parents do not
protect their child's eyes from the bright sun. In Britain, particularly, nearly a
third of parents do not buy sunglasses for their children and those that do put
price into more consideration than protection. It is important to choose dark
sunglasses with the CE mark of quality.
People with light-colored eyes are at more risk from sun
damage than people with dark-colored eyes. It has also been stated that wearing
cheap sunglasses with no UV protection may be a greater danger as it causes
pupils to dilate and allow more harmful rays into the eye.
Not all quality sunglasses are super expensive. Buying
sunglasses that filter both UVA and UVB rays, in addition to having the CE mark, are crucial to knowing that the
sunglasses are of good quality.
Resources:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/8204956.stm
http://www.steadyhealth.com/Beware_Of_Sun_Damage_To_Your_Eyes_a683.html
http://www.ehow.com/how-does_5220937_sun-damage-eyes.html
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