Protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays early in life reduces your risk of eye problems as an adult. Keep your eyes protected all year. Even if you haven't protected your eyes in the past, it's never too late to reduce your risks of potential damage.
Damage
Areas of the eye most often exposed to UV rays are surface tissues, the cornea and the lens. In some cases, the retina can also experience damage from UV rays. According to Preventing Blindness America, there are two types of UV rays: UV-A and UV-B. Each target different areas of the eye. UV-A rays can cause central vision problems by damaging the macula, which is part of the retina located at the back of the eye. UV-B ray damage is more common, affecting the cornea and lens, according to Preventing Blindness America.
Types
Problems of long-term exposure to harmful UV rays include blindness, disorders, cancers and lesions. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, UV rays increase your risk of cataracts, which causes a clouding of the lens. In some cases, this cloudiness or milky-like substance can be seen by the naked eye. According to Preventing Blindness America, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness among older adults in the United States.
The risk of age-related macular degeneration is also increased by not protecting your eyes from UV rays. According to Prevent Blindness America, this causes vision to become blurry and wavy. It may also cause a blind spot. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, not protecting your eyes from artificial and natural UV rays can also cause a temporary painful burn to the cornea and an abnormal growth in the corner of the eye. Skin cancer around the eye lid is also a possibility.
Artificial UV Rays
According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, tanning beds can produce UV rays 100 times more potent than UV rays you are exposed to by the sun. Tanning beds can do a significant amount of damage to your eyes in shorter periods, so it's important to wear specialized goggles. For extra precaution, cover your face with a towel while tanning in tanning beds.
Sunglasses
The most obvious way to protect your eyes from UV ray damage is wearing sunglasses. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, only wear sunglasses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays. The darkness of the lens is not an indicator of better protection; they do not necessarily need to be more expensive than other sunglasses to offer significant protection. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, always wear sunglasses, even if you wear UV protective contacts or it's cloudy outside. Also wear sunglasses that wrap around the side of your face to protect UV rays from entering.
Considerations
The sun's UV rays are at their strongest between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m., so avoid the sun during these times whenever possible. Never look directly at the sun. In addition, if you have children, be sure they are wearing sunglasses to keep their eyes safe. If you have a baby or toddler who will not keep sunglasses on, be sure he wears a large-billed hat to protect his eyes.
