The long, warm days of summer call for people to spend more and more time in the beautiful outdoors. Therefore protection from the sun becomes increasingly important. The sun provides enjoyment, but over-exposure can damage your eyes.
The harm to your eyes comes from the ultraviolet (UV) light of the sun that can trigger a host of ophthalmic maladies such as cataracts, muscular degeneration, corneal burns, benign growths and skin cancer around the eyelids. Because UV rays are invisible, most of the time people do not even realise that they are harmful to their eyes. But “out of sight” should not mean “out of mind”. These invisible rays can do plenty of damage if absorbed by the eyes and can even lead to eye diseases or vision loss.
Who is most vulnerable to the dangers of sunlight?
People who work outdoors, have blue eyes or take certain medicines are especially vulnerable to eye damage from sunlight, as well as anyone who spend a day at the beach or goes sailing or skiing. The reflective glare of the sand, water or snow magnifies sun exposure.
Certain medications increase UV toxicity. People who take chlorothiazides, sulfomides, tetracycline, phenothiazines, psoralens and allopurinol should be extra cautious about sunlight.
Everybody (children included) is at risk of eye problems caused by the sun. The risk of sun-related eye problems is higher for people who:
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- Spend long hours in the sun
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- Drive long distances in daytime without eye protection
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- Have had cataract surgery or have certain retina disorders
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- Are on certain medications (as mentioned above) which increase the eye’s sensitivity to light.
Protect your eyes from the sun!
It is never too late to begin protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays. Just as your skin needs sunblock against the sun’s harsh UV rays, your eyes need protection too. In fact UV radiation is one of the greatest threats to the eyes, with effects that are three times greater in summer than in winter.
Wear sunglasses
Sunglasses help you in two important ways: they filter light and they protect your eyes from damaging UV rays. You should choose sunglasses that:
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- Reduce glare
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- Filter out 99 to 100% of UV rays
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- Protect your eyes
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- Are comfortable to wear
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- Do not distort colours.
Have regular eye examinations
Having a regular eye examination promotes eye health. Serious eye conditions caused by UV rays can then be detected before vision or eye health is compromised.
Sources
Keeping Your Eyes Healthy: Wear sunglasses. Retrieved from https://nei.nih.gov/hvm/healthy_eyes_glasses
Protecting Your Eyes from Sun Damage. Retrieved from http://www.healthywomen.org/content/article/protecting-your-eyes-sun-damage
(Revised by M van Deventer)