When you are spending a day in the sun, it’s common for people to remember UV protection for their skin. Just as it is important to put on sunscreen, it’s equally important to consider how you are protecting your eyes from UV rays.
The reality is that UV exposure can cause long-term damage to your eyes, even if it is a cold or cloudy day. In this article, we are sharing a bit of information so that you can understand why year-round eye protection is essential to maintain your vision.
When your eyes are exposed to UV rays, it can increase your risk of serious eye conditions, such as cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygium, and photokeratitis.
It’s important to keep your eyes protected from short bursts of intense UV exposure, as well as long-term sun exposure. Always wear sunglasses with UV protection lenses.
Regardless of the weather conditions or temperatures outside, your eyes can always be impacted by UV exposure. It’s obvious to most people that they need sunglasses in the summer months. During this time, the UV rays are strong, and your risk can go even higher at the beach or in the pool since the sunlight is reflecting off the water.
On overcast days, UV rays are still present and can penetrate through the clouds. So, you should still be wearing UV protection lenses even if the sun isn’t fully shining during the day.
Finally, winter is another time when UV protection is needed. Did you know that 80% of UV rays can be reflected by the snow? So, make sure to choose goggles with UV protection.
The recommendations are simple, but these tips can make a big difference to protect your eyes from UV damage:
Cheap sunglasses might look stylish, but they don’t cut it when it comes to UV protection. Make sure that you have the right lenses by choosing sunglasses from an eye clinic. Contact our team at Temecula Creek Optometry for more information: (951) 302 -1331.