Protect your eyes from the sun
by Linksfield Optometrist
“Don’t look at the sun or you’ll go blind,” has been uttered by many a parent, grandparent and other wise elder over the years. As extreme as it sounds, truth is, it really is bad for your vision. Here’s why and what you can do to protect your eyes…
As with the skin, it’s the ultraviolet or UV radiation from the sun that can cause vision problems. Damage from excess exposure can build up over time, causing both short- and long-term issues. The easiest way to protect your eyes? Sunglasses – good ones.
Sun’s out, sunnies out
You may not know this, but when you’re putting your sunglasses on, your pupils are dilating behind the dark lens, which ultimately allows more light in. This is why it’s so important to have a decent pair, from a reputable brand, where you’re guaranteed that the UV coating really will protect your eyes as promised.
Cheaper knock-offs may look like the real deal, but what they do is actually stream the eye full of UV, due to poorly coated lenses, causing the actual lens inside the eye to help absorb that, to protect the retina. Ultimately, this UV streaming can lead to cataract formation and even orbital cancers, amongst other things.
So it’s really important that we wear sunglasses, even on cloudy days; firstly, to protect our eye from the penetrating UV, as well as to cut the glare while we drive, which can be quite dangerous. So many accidents happen because of glare, which is where a polarized lens becomes quite important – for drivers, runners, cyclists, fishermen and more.
Children are also vulnerable to sun damage, so it’s important to get them into the habit of wearing sunglasses and hats – preferably wide-brimmed.
Rather than just a fashion accessory, see your sunglasses as more of an investment in your long-term vision.
Ways the sun can affect your eyes
Short-term: Photokeratitis is an inflammation of the cornea, which can result from looking directly at the sun or from the reflection of UV rays off of water, beach sand or snow. Photoconjunctivitis is where the membranes on the eyeball become inflamed due to UV rays.
Both conditions usually improve after a couple of days, but they can be quite painful.
Long-term: Longer-term eye problems that can be caused by sun damage include cataracts, which causes clouding of the lens of the eye. Macular degeneration, where there is a gradual loss of central vision, is also associated with long-term UV exposure.
At linksfield, we’re all about finding the best vision solutions for our patients. We also collaborate with the best brands and partners to bring you the ultimate in vision-forward technology. Give us a call or book an appointment with us.