|
In honor of UV Safety Month, celebrated throughout the month of
July, eye doctors across the nation are urging Americans to protect
their eyes and those of their children by wearing sunglasses and
wide-brimmed hats.
"Recent studies have shown that prolonged exposure to the sun's
invisible, high-energy ultraviolet rays without protection may cause
eye conditions that can lead to vision loss, such as cataracts and
age-related macular degeneration," said Mark Hilliard, administrator
of the Logan County Health Department. "During the summer months the
level of ultraviolet radiation is three times greater than [in] the
winter. The more exposure to bright light, the greater the chances
of developing these serious eye problems."
Sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat are the best defense system for
your eyes. To be effective, both must be worn every time you're
outside for prolonged periods of time, even when it's overcast.
But what type of sunglasses should you buy?
"The most important thing is to purchase sunglasses that block 99
to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays," said Hilliard. "Don't be
misled by the color of the lens or the price tag dangling from the
frame."
[to top of second column in this article]
 |
 The ability to block UV light is not dependent on the darkness of
the lens. UV protection can come from adding chemicals to the lens
material during manufacturing or from a chemical coating applied to
the lens surface. Moreover, as for the cost, many $10 sunglasses
provide equal or greater protection than a $100 pair. With expensive
sunglasses, you are paying for style, frame quality and options such
as scratch-resistant coatings, not protective ability.
In addition to the damage caused by repeated sun exposure over
time, you need to protect your eyes from acute damage caused by a
single day in the sun. Excessive exposure to ultraviolet light
reflected off sand, snow or pavement could burn the eye's surface.
Similar to sunburns, eye surface burns usually disappear within a
couple of days but may lead to further complications later in life.
Have fun in the sun this summer, but do remember to use optimal
care in protecting your eyes!
[Logan
County Health Department news release] |
