Keep an Eye on Harmful UV Rays.
It is not clear how much exposure to solar radiation will cause damage, so the AOA recommends wearing quality sunglasses that offer proper UV protection and a wide-brimmed hat whenever people spend time outdoors. Also, certain contact lenses incorporate an ultraviolet blocker in the lens, which helps further reduce exposure to UV light that eventually can cause cataracts and other eye problems. Patients can ask their optometrist for additional information about these contact lenses.
The following
top five tips from the American Optometric Association
can help prevent eye damage from exposure to UV radiation:
- Wear protective eyewear any time the eyes are exposed to UV rays, even on cloudy days and during the winter.
- Look for quality sunglasses or contact lenses that offer good protection. Sunglasses or protective contact lenses should block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
- Check to make sure sunglass lenses are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions or imperfections.
- Purchase gray-colored lenses because they reduce light intensity without altering the color of objects to provide the most natural color vision.
- Don't forget protection for young children and teenagers, who typically spend more time in the sun than adults and thus are at greater risk for damage.
Additionally, be sure to schedule
with an eye doctor. It's a good way to monitor eye health, maintain good vision, and keep up-to-date on the latest in UV radiation protection.