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While most of us know that the sun can damage our skin, nearly 70 percent of us aren’t aware that the sun can be equally harmful to another vital organ – our eyes – and can cause eye damage ranging from sunburn to cancer. And only a third of us wear sunglasses regularly, despite the fact that eye damage can occur after only a brief exposure to intense sunlight.
 

So while sunglasses can add a “cool factor” to your summer style, their main function is to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays and should be a routine part of your outdoor summer activities.
 

How can the sun hurt your eyes?

There are several types of eye damage that can occur from prolonged or excessive exposure to the sun, and which sunglasses can help prevent:
 

• Skin cancer – The skin around your eyes, including your eyelids, is very thin and sensitive. In addition to age spots and wrinkling that can develop from long-term sun exposure, approximately 10 percent of all skin cancers occur on the eyelid.
• Photokeratitis – Basically a sunburn of the eye itself, this temporary condition (usually lasting less than 48 hours) can be painful and cause blurred vision or light sensitivity.
• Macular degeneration – Exposure to UV rays over time can damage the macula lutea (the part of the eye that enables us to clearly see fine details) and lead to vision deterioration or permanent loss.
• Cataracts – Cataracts are cloudy areas in the eye’s lens that cause blurry vision. According to the World Health Organization, nearly 20 percent of all cataracts are caused by overexposure to UV rays.
• Pterygium – A thick tissue growth that can slowly progress across the white of the eye, pterygium can cause inflammation or reduced vision that may require minor surgery.

Shopping for sunglasses

The best form of prevention against sun-related eye damage is wearing your sunglasses whenever you’re outdoors (even on cloudy days).
 

• Larger, wrap-around sunglasses provide the most UV blockage. But whatever shape you choose, make sure they are high-quality – no cheap plastic shades from the bargain bin!
• Shop for a pair with 100 percent UVA and UVB protection from ultraviolet rays.
• Polarized lenses will reduce glare (especially helpful near water), but don’t add any UV protection.
• Lens color doesn’t matter – the UV protectant added to sunglasses is clear, so light-colored lenses will protect as well as darker ones.

Remember: with sunglasses, function is much more important than form!
 

Kids need sunglasses, too!

So, now that we’ve established the importance of protective eye care, let’s think about our children. Only about half of parents require their kids to wear sunglasses, despite the fact that children’s developing eyes are even more vulnerable to sun damage than those of adults.
 

Parents should model consistent sunglasses-wearing behavior when outdoors, and let your child help pick out a style he or she will wear. Good habits instilled at a young age can help protect your child’s eyes over his/her lifetime.
 

Have fun outdoors this summer, but always make your eye care a priority – UV damage can start in as few as 15 minutes.
 

In addition to wearing sunscreen and a wide-brimmed hat, high-quality sunglasses can help you be both stylish and safe!
 

Talk to your doctor at Eye Associates about selecting safe sunglasses options for you and your family.
 

The information in this article should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.