by Pamela Sosnowski

Created on: December 13, 2009   Last Updated: December 23, 2009

When most people choose a pair of sunglasses, they think of fashion first and sometimes not at all about protection. Yet wearing the right pair of sunglasses is essential to keeping your eyes healthy and protected from the sun’s damaging UV rays. Just as the sun can cause skin cancer and wrinkles, it can also cause eye diseases, some of which lead to the loss of eyesight.

What exactly about sunlight makes it so dangerous for our eyes? The sun produces different types of invisible ultraviolet rays. Two of them, UV-A and UV-B, are particularly damaging to our delicate eye tissue. "UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or indoor artificial rays, can damage the eye's surface as well as the cornea and lens," states Michael Kutryb, MD, an Edgewater, Florida ophthalmologist and clinical correspondent for the American Academy of Ophthalmologists.
Source: http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/resources/releas es/2009_releases/20090601a.cfm

UV-A rays penetrate deep into the eyeball and can reach the macula, which is the part of the eye’s retina that resides in the back of the eyes. UV-A rays can contribute to macular degeneration, which causes blindness, most often in older people.  

UV-B rays are partially absorbed by the front part of your eyes, but this makes them no less dangerous than their counterpart. UV-B rays in particular are believed to be a cause of cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens, which leads to blocked vision.

Other eye diseases that UV ray exposure can cause include pterygia, a growth that usually begins on the white part of the eye and requires surgery for removal. Your eyelids and the skin around your eyes can develop skin cancer, just as other exposed areas of your body can. They can also suffer sunburn. This is known as corneal sunburn or photokeratitis, and can be very painful.

Fortunately, the right sunglasses go a long way in preventing these types of eye diseases and conditions. The American Academy of Ophthalmologists recommends choosing sunglasses with labels that clearly state that they block 100% of both UV-A and UV-B rays, regardless of cost or how dark the lens are. Sunglasses should be worn outdoors at all times, even when it’s cloudy, since UV rays can easily penetrate clouds. Because the sun’s rays easily reflect off bright surfaces including sand, snow, and water, the AAO also advises picking sunglasses with a wrap-around style, to protect your eyes from all directions.
Source: http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/resources/releas es/2009_releases/20090601a.cfm

• 1
• 2
• Next Page >>