Ultraviolet (UV) protection is a
concern for many Americans,
particularly in the spring and
summer months, but most people
are thinking about their skin,
not their eyes. The American
Optometric Association (AOA)
warns that prolonged exposure to
the sun's UV rays and short
wavelength light (violet and
blue light) without proper
protection may cause eye
conditions that can lead to a
variety of vision disorders.
According to the AOA's 2007
American Eye-Q® survey, which
identified Americans' attitudes
and behaviors regarding eye care
and related issues, 40 percent
of Americans do not think UV
protection is an important
factor to consider when
purchasing sunglasses.
"Just as skin is 'burned' by
UV radiation the eye can also
suffer damage," said Gregory
Good, OD, Ph.D., member of AOA's
Commission on Ophthalmic
Standards. "The
lesson-especially for young
people-is that eyes need
protection, too. Protection can
be achieved by simple, safe, and
inexpensive methods such as
wearing a brimmed hat and using
eyewear that properly absorbs UV
radiation."
Overexposure to UV rays has
been linked to age-related
cataracts, pterygium,
photokeratitis and corneal
degenerative changes, the AOA
said. These conditions can cause
blurred vision, irritation,
redness, tearing, temporary
vision loss and, in some
instances, blindness. And, while
the correlation is still
unclear, there appears to be a
link between excessive summer
sun exposure and retinal
pigmentation.
The AOA cautions that the
effects of sunlight exposure are
cumulative; therefore,
individuals whose work or
recreational activities involve
lengthy exposure to sunlight are
at the greatest risk. UV
radiation reflects off surfaces
such as snow, water and white
sand, so the risk is
particularly high for people on
beaches, boats or ski slopes.
The risk for serious damage is
greatest during the mid-day
hours, generally from 10 a.m. to
3 p.m., and during summer
months.
Children and teenagers are
particularly susceptible to the
sun's damaging rays because they
typically spend more time
outdoors than adults, and the
lenses of their eyes are more
transparent than those of
adults. The transparent lenses
allow more short wavelength
light to reach the retina of the
eye.
The effects of UV radiation
are cumulative, so it's
important to develop good
protection habits early in life,
such as wearing sunglasses with
UV protection. The American
Eye-Q® survey showed that 61
percent of Americans buy
sunglasses for their children,
but 23 percent do not check that
the lenses provide protection
against UV rays.
By educating Americans about
the dangers of UV rays on the
eyes and the importance of
choosing proper eyewear that
provides the best UV protection,
doctors of optometry are helping
patients protect their long-term
eye health.
The following top five
tips from the American
Optometric Association can
help prevent further eye damage
from exposure to UV radiation:
-
Wear protective eyewear
any time your eyes are exposed
to UV radiation, even on
cloudy days and during the
winter.
-
Look for quality
sunglasses that offer good
protection. Sunglasses should
block out 99 to 100 percent of
UV-A and UV-B radiation and
screen out 75 to 90 percent of
visible light.
-
Check to make sure
sunglass lenses are perfectly
matched in color and free of
distortions or imperfections.
-
Purchase gray-colored
lenses because they reduce
light intensity without
altering the color of objects,
providing the most natural
color vision.
-
Don't forget protection
for children and teenagers.
They typically spend more time
in the sun than adults and are
at greater risk of damaging
their retinas from short
wavelength light.
Additionally, be sure to
receive routine comprehensive
eye exams from an eye doctor.
It's a good way to monitor eye
health, maintain good vision,
and keep up-to-date on the
latest in UV radiation
protection.
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