Because the earth’s ozone layer has been damaged, more people are susceptible to solar radiation than ever before. Most people are aware of the dangers that UV exposure poses to their skin, but very few realize that UV exposure can harm their eyes, as well. UV sunlight plays a part in the development of several eye conditions, including cataracts, macular degeneration and cancers of the eye lids.
Short term effects of over-exposure to UV light, which is common during water or snow sports, include UV keratitis where the cornea at the front of the eye is burned and becomes inflamed and sore. This condition usually resolves itself within 24 hours. Whatever the season, your eyes need protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays.
Cheap sunglasses can in fact be harmful to the eyes, too. That’s because they cause the pupil to dilate in response to the lower light conditions, but they don’t reduce enough of the UV radiation, so more harmful UV rays get into the eye.
Here’s how you can protect yourself from the UV sunlight that can damage your eyes.
Contact Lenses
Many of today’s contact lenses have special UV filters built in. If you play a lot of outdoor sports and wear contacts, it would be worth seeing if you can get UV-block contact lenses in your prescription. If you don’t play a lot of sports, a good-quality pair of sunglasses will protect your eyes when you wear your contacts.
Frames
Frames should be large enough to cover all of the area around the eyes, as well as the eyes. Wrap-around frames are particularly good at preventing light from getting in around the sides of the frames. Again, cheap sunglasses may have big frames but the lenses likely won’t offer enough protection from the UV rays of the sun.
Sunglass Lenses
Look for sunglass lenses that offer 100 percent UVA and UVB protection or UV 400 protection. Along with full UV protection, good lenses will reduce glare, give you good visual comfort, allow for clear vision while minimizing the distortion of colours and cover your eyes fully.
Prescription Sunglasses
Sunglass lenses can be made to suit most prescriptions. Excellent polarizing lenses with all the necessary filters to protect the eyes are now a commonplace choice for prescription sunglasses. Another option for prescription sunglass lenses are photo-chromatic lenses that are clear indoors but will darken outdoors when exposed to UV light.
You might also opt for a pair of clip-on sunglasses that are made to fit over your normal prescription glasses. All prescription sunglass lenses will automatically offer good UV protection, comfort and high quality vision.
