Do I Really Need Sunglasses?

By now, we all know the detrimental effects of the sun’s ultraviolet rays to our skin, but did you know your eyes are just as prone to these effects?

 

While it’s difficult to say exactly how much UV exposure damages the eye over time, we do know the effects are cumulative – it’s building up, starting from when we are kids playing outside.

 

The sun increases our chances of developing several eye problems, including:

• Sunburned, chronically dry eyes AKA “Photokeratitis”
• Cataracts
• Macular Degeneration – A leading cause of blindness in the US
• Eye Cancer, such as melanomas in the eye (Yes, our eyes have pigment cells just like our skin!)
  

What to do? Get a pair of sunglasses and wear them anytime you’re outside. That’s in the freezing temperatures of winter as well as those hot summer days…if it’s daytime, the sun is out!

 

Remember, you don’t need to spend a lot for a good pair of sunglasses. The pairs sold in the drugstore with “UVA/UVB” protective stickers are just as good as those trendy brand name frames.

 

And, don’t forget those kids in the playground! It may take a lot of nagging, but they need their eyes protected too! Even a brimmed hat or visor helps! If they keep refusing, keep trying! They’ll thank you one day…maybe.