Even in this rainy seasons, we would often meet the blazing sun on our way to an afternoon appointment; so a good go to before leaving the house is usually a sunscreen cream to protect our skin from the scorching sun.
Safe right?
Well, how about our eyes?
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are an invisible kind of radiation that comes from the sun, tanning beds, and sunlamps. UV rays can penetrate and change skin cells and cause skin cancers. They also harm the eyes causing cataracts, macular degeneration, photokeratitis, pterygium and so on.
Here are some tips on protecting your eyes from UV rays from the American Academy of Ophthalmology:
- Don’t focus on color or darkness of sunglass lenses: Select sunglasses that block UV rays. Don’t be deceived by color or cost. The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the price tag or how dark the sunglass lenses are.
- Check for 100 percent UV protection: Make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent of UV-A rays and UV-B rays.
- Wear a hat: In addition to your sunglasses, wear a broad-brimmed hat to protect your eyes.
- Don’t rely on contact lenses: Even if you wear contact lenses with UV protection, remember your sunglasses.
- Don’t be fooled by clouds: The sun’s rays can pass through haze and thin clouds. Sun damage to eyes can occur anytime during the year, not just in the summertime.
- Protect your eyes during peak sun times: Sunglasses should be worn whenever outside, and it’s especially important to wear sunglasses in the early afternoon and at higher altitudes, where UV light is more intense.
- Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time, including during an eclipse, can lead to solar retinopathy, damage to the eye’s retina from solar radiation.
- Don’t forget the kids: Everyone is at risk, including children. Protect their eyes with hats and sunglasses. In addition, try to keep children out of the sun between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., when the sun’s UV rays are the strongest.
The hours between 10 am and 4pm are the most hazardous for UV exposure. If you must be outside around this time, it is important that you wear protective glasses to shield your eyes from sunrays; and of course, protect your skin too!
About protective glasses for UV rays.
There are special glasses which have special coatings on them that are suitable for protection against UV rays. These are different from your regular sunglasses. Keeping in mind that UV rays are not only present in sunny days but also in cloudy days, UV protection glasses will suffice for any weather as it is obvious that it is quite out of place to wear sunglasses in cloudy weather. UV protection glasses also knocks off the stress of having to take off your prescription glasses to wear your sunglasses to shield your eyes when you go out into the sun! You can have this protection fitted with your prescription.
Amazing isn’t it?!