3 Tips to Protect Your Eyes From UV Light
When summer finally arrives in Northeast Ohio, we will all be ready to enjoy the sunshine. However, as eye care specialists, it is our job to help you protect your eyes all year long—and that includes giving you some essential summer eye safety reminders. Please keep these tips in mind!
1. Wear your sunglasses.
This simple tip can protect your eyes from harmful UV exposure. When selecting your sunglasses, look for ones labeled 100% UV protection or UV400. The UV400 label means the glasses block 99 to 100 percent of all UV rays. We understand that some people do not like wearing glasses, but the benefits of sunglasses are very real. Prolonged exposure to UV rays can lead to a painful condition called photokeratitis—think of it as a sunburn to your corneas—and an increased risk of muscular degeneration. We don’t want to scare you, but we also don’t want you to put your eyes and vision at risk. Pick out some shades that you love and feel comfortable in and wear them regularly.
2. Prepare for sun glare when driving.
If you have ever been on the road in those moments just after the sun rises or before it sets, you understand the power of sun glare. In just a few seconds, your visibility on the road can be completely changed. We recommend keeping a pair of polarized sunglasses in your car. Polarized lenses will block out any horizontal light waves bouncing off the road and the vehicles around you and help reduce glare. Also leave room between your vehicle and those around you, turn your headlights on for increased visibility, and avoid leaving any items on your dashboard that could cause additional glare.
3. Protect your eyes while in your car.
A study published several years ago in JAMA Ophthalmology found that vehicle windshields typically block 96% of UV rays. Side windows were a different story: They block 71% of rays and only 14% of side windows provided high enough protection. Make sure you wear your sunglasses while driving this summer, whether you are behind the wheel or in the passenger seat.
If you are looking for more summer eye care tips or are interested in a laser eye procedure, please reach out to our team. You can schedule your initial LASIK consultation from the comfort of home. We are here to help and look forward to hearing from you!
