As the old Gershwin tune goes, itโs โsummertime, and the living is easy.โ Presumably, a white sand beach somewhere is calling your nameโtime to hunch under a shady umbrella with a good book, scrounge the shore for seashells, or take a dip in the waves.
All after slathering yourself in sunscreen, of courseโtoo much sun not only causes nasty burns, but it may also increase your risk of skin cancer.
Unfortunately, the threat of excessive sun exposure to your health isnโt limited to your skinโthe ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun can also injure your eyes.
Excessive UV exposure can cause a condition called photokeratitis, or โsunburn of the eye,โโ says Dr. Scott Paladichuk, a Therapeutic Certified Optometrist with Hattiesburg Eye Clinic. โThis typically results in temporary discomfort, redness, blurred vision, tearing and sensitivity to light. You may also develop abnormal tissue growth on the whites of the eyes called pterygium that could interfere with vision.โ
But thatโs not all of the possible complications to your eyes from UV exposureโit could also accelerate the development of cataracts, the clouding over of the eyeโs natural lenses. Additionally, too much UV can also contribute to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), in which a person loses the central core of their vision.
And just like with the skin, years of too much sun could increase your odds of eye cancer.
โExcessive exposure to UV rays, particularly UV-B and UV-C, increase a personโs risk for various types of eye and eyelid cancers, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma,โ says Dr. Paladichuk.
Itโs enough to make you want to stay indoors. Fortunately, though, you donโt have toโif you take a few precautions while out in the sun.
In recognition of UV Safety Awareness Month this July, here are 4 tips from Dr. Paladichuk and Hattiesburg Eye Clinic to protect your eyes while outdoors.
- Wear sunglasses. A good pair of sunglasses is your primary protection against UV
exposureโand by โgood,โ Dr. Paladichuk means glasses designed to block UV rays.โA lot of people think if their lenses are polarized, thatโs enough,โ says Dr. Paladichuk. โBut while polarization can reduce and increase comfort and clarity, by itself it wonโt block UV rays.โ
Instead, he says only choose sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection: Look for labels stating the eyewear meets American National Standards Institute (ANSI) UV Protection standards for both UVA and UVB rays. Additionally, โwraparoundโ frames can protect the eyes from rays entering in from the sides.
- Wear a hat. Besides adding welcome shade, a hat can also boost the protection provided by your sunglasses.
โThe added protection of a hat is especially important for children and seniors. Broad-brimmed hats are best,โ says Dr. Paladichuk.
A hatโs color and material can also make a difference. Choose dark or bright colors, as they tend to shield your eyes from UV rays better than lighter shades. And, tightly-woven, cotton fabric hats offer more protection that thinner forms of material.
- Do the same on cloudy days. Dr. Paladichuk says that just because the sunโs visible light is โhidingโ behind a few clouds, that doesnโt mean its UV rays are blocked as well.
โClouds canโt block UV light, which can pass right through haze and clouds. In fact, some types of clouds may intensify UV radiation by reflecting and scattering it.โ
Although it may seem counterintuitive, be sure youโre wearing sunglasses and other protection even on overcast
days. - โฆAnd, in tanning beds. Well, maybe not a hat, but you should still wear appropriate eye
protection.โTanning bed light emits UV rays, and poses the same risks to your eyes and body as outdoor sunlight,โ says Dr. Paladichuk. โItโs always important to wear approved eyewear, and follow other safety guidelines, while using a tanning bed.
And, hereโs a bonus tip, though itโs a bit of common sense: Avoid looking directly at the sun. โStaring at the sun for even short periods of timeโeven during an eclipseโcould damage your retina and lead to vision impairment or even blindness,โ says Dr. Paladichuk.
Time in the sun does have its benefits: Besides improving your mental outlook, sunlight (as a major source of vitamin D) could also boost your immune system. Even so, too much of anything, even a lovely, sunny day at the beach, can be detrimental.
So, go ahead and get your summertime dose of outdoor fun. Just be sure to follow Dr. Paladichukโs advice for protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays.
To learn more about protecting your vision visit us at our website. To learn more about how Hattiesburg Eye Clinic can improve your vision health, call 601-268-5910 (or toll-free 800-624-8254) or schedule a consultation with us at www.hattiesburgeyeclinic.com/contact-us/