That time of year is here again! Summer has arrived, and life is sunny days at the beach and lazy days without school. But it's also time to remind yourself of the importance of protecting yourself and your loved ones against harmful Ultra-Violet (UV) radiation that you are getting from the sun and other sources.
Dr. Ty J. Miller in Akron, Ohio explains, “It is widely known that the leading source of UV radiation exposure is the sun. Many people don't realize, however, that the sun is not the only source of UV radiation. Welding machines, tanning beds and many other similar devices may also be significant sources of UV radiation. Furthermore, did you know that UV radiation is not only dangerous for your skin, but it can also be dangerous for your eyes as well? Be careful! Too much UV radiation can cause a kind of "sunburn of the eye," called photokeratitis, which can cause side effects such as eyelid twitches, eye pain, and extreme sensitivity to bright light. In severe cases, permanent damage to your central vision can occur, and the more your eyes are exposed to UV rays in your life, the greater your chances become of developing serious problems with your eyes later in life, such as age related macular degeneration, cataracts and even cancer.”
How to Protect Your Eyes in The Summer- Advice From Our Akron Optometrist, Dr. Ty Miller
Fortunately, there are a number of steps that can be implemented to protect your eyes from the harmful effects of overexposure:
The American Optometric Association suggests that sunglasses meant for extended outdoor use should block 99-100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays and 75-90 percent of all visible light.
Your sunglasses should also be polarized, in order to block glare and other types of intense light from entering your eyes and causing serious short and long term damage.
A hat, baseball cap or other hat with a wide brim is also important to protect your eyes from light that otherwise might not be blocked by your sunglasses.
Contact lenses with UV protection, such as Acuvue Oasys, are a great option as well in order to block UV radiation that may get around the edges of your sunglasses and do damage to your eyes.
There are also certain situations in which sunglasses alone are not enough to protect your eyes. Arc welding and tanning beds are sources of direct light which require specialized eyewear to prevent extremely harmful side effects similar to looking directly into the sun. Snowfields, although they do not give off light of their own, do reflect a great deal of light that can also do similar damage to your eyes without appropriate specialized eyewear.
For more information, speak with Dr. Ty J. Miller today.