Protect Your Eyes from Sun Damage

Ultraviolet rays from the sun can lead to premature aging. Your eyes need protection from the harmful ultraviolet rays just like your skin needs sunscreen.

Continuous unprotected exposure to UV rays can cause damage to the eye. Some of the damage is irreversible. UVB exposure contributes to cataracts, a gradual clouding of the intra-ocular lens that eventually blurs vision and affects your ability to read and drive. Cataracts that interfere significantly with vision must be removed by surgery.

Unprotected, overexposure to the sun can also result in:

  • Wrinkles and brown spots around the eyes
  • Pingueculas or pterygiums (raised white or yellow areas on the eyes) PICTURE
  • Photokeratitis, a sunburn on the surface of the eye, which is very painful and may cause permanent damage to the cornea
  • Cataracts: nuclear sclerosis
  • Macular degeneration

Unlike cataracts, Age-related Macular Degeneration (ARMD), which is damage in the retina in the back of your eye, cannot be removed. Lifelong UV protection, and anti-oxidant vitamins are the best preventative measures you can take.

Children's sensitive skin and eyes especially need protection from harmful UV rays. It is estimated that 80% of the UV exposure received in your lifetime, happens before 18 years of age. You can protect your eyes from these damaging rays by wearing UV400 filters on glasses and sunglasses, wide brimmed hats, UV filters in contacts, and photo-chromatic lenses that are clear indoors and darken when outdoors. The latest technology in some brands of contact lenses, such as Acuvue, blocks out 90% of UVA rays, and 99% of UVB.

We recommend that all our patients have UV400 protection in their clear and dark glasses. Protect your eyes from the sun with plano sunglasses if you do not need prescription lenses. Keep your eyes looking and seeing their best by protecting your eyes from sun damage. It's easy, and it's effective.