How to Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays

Advice on How to Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays This Summer by Your Florida-based Optometrist

Most people know how ultraviolet rays from the sun can cause sunburn and skin cancer. However, Eye Site Vision Center, an optometrist practice serving Coral Springs, Lighthouse Point, and Boca Raton, Florida would like to remind you that UV rays can also damage the eye. That is why July is UV Safety Month.

Why UV-Rays are Damaging

Two types of UV rays exist, UV-A and UV-B. Long-term exposure to UV-A tends to harm the back of the eye, where the retina is located. Long-term exposure to UV-B hurts the front of the eye, where the cornea and lens are. Unless you look directly at the sun, the damage occurs steadily over time, depending on geography, altitude, time of day, and other factors.

How UV-Rays Damage the Eye

Constant exposure to UV rays can cause conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, pterygium, pinguecula, and photokeratitis. Each of these conditions affects vision to one extent or another. They can be treated, but the old adage of an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure applies.

Eye Site Vision Center Offers Tips to Protect Your Eyes: Wear Sunglasses

The use of a good pair of wrap-around sunglasses while you are outside, should block UV rays, preventing the eye conditions that they can cause. A good optometrist can advise you on what types of sunglasses block 100 percent of UV rays. You should note that the effectiveness is not related to the color and darkness of the lens. Amber-colored sunglasses work just as well as the dark green or gray variety.

Contacting Eye Site Vision Center, serving Coral Springs, Lighthouse Point, and Boca Raton, Florida

If you have any questions about UV ray protection or any other aspect of eye care or want to schedule an appointment, call us at (561)479-1411 for our Boca Raton location, (954) 344-3937 for our Coral Springs location, or (954)943-3779 for our Lighthouse Point location.