Vision Source Philly Blog

OVEREXPOSURE TO UV RAYS CAN LEAD TO EYE DISEASES
Prime vacation season for the beach is here and most of us are only thinking about protecting our skin. We should also be concerned about protecting our eyes because overexposure to UV rays can lead to eye diseases like cataracts and macular degeneration.

The following tips from the American Optometric Association may help prevent eye and vision damage from overexposure to UV radiation

1. Wear protective eyewear any time the eyes are exposed to UV rays, even on cloudy days and during the winter.

2. Sunglasses or protective contact lenses should block 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.

3. Consider gray-colored lenses to reduce light intensity without altering the color of objects and provide the most natural color vision. Brown or amber-colored lenses increase contrast as well as reduce light intensity.

4. Don’t forget protection for young children and teenagers, who typically spend more time in the sun than adults and are at a greater risk for damage.

So remember, the next time you go to buy that pair of sunglasses, don’t forget to make sure they are healthy and protective for your eyes also.