Protect Your Eyes From the Summer Sun
While most people are aware of the cause-
and-effect relationship between the sun’s
ultraviolet (UV) rays and skin cancer, less
people are aware of the damage that the
sun and UV radiation can cause to the eyes.
Of those who do protect their eyes with
sunglasses, 47 percent don’t check the UV
protection level of their sunglasses before
purchasing them.
According to the American Optometric
Association, both short- and long-term
exposure to sunlight can cause damage to
the eyes. Short-term exposure can lead to
any of the following conditions:
• Photokeratitis (sunburn to the cornea)
• Pterygium (tissue growth on the whites
of the eyes that can block vision)
• Skin cancer on the eyelids
Long-term overexposure to sunlight and UV
radiation over the course of a lifetime can
also result in cataracts, age-related macular
degeneration and cancer that affects the
skin around the eye or even the eye itself.
Outdoor workers need eyewear that
protects them not only from job hazards,
but also from the sun. In order to reduce
sun exposure to the eyes, consider the
following tips when working outdoors:
• Wear sunglasses with UV protection of
more than 95 percent, even in cloudy
weather.
• Wear sunglasses with a lens tint that
blocks at least 80 percent, but no more
than 90 percent, of transmissible light.
Some recommended tints to choose
from are amber, neutral gray, brown
and green.
• Protect your eyes from all angles by
wearing sunglasses that wrap all the way
around the temples, or wear a hat with
a 3-inch brim to block overhead
sunlight.