With the summer sun shining high upon us, the majority of us know how it can affect and harm our skin. However, many of summer revellers are unaware of the effect the sun can have on our eyes. For the unaware, UVA and UVB rays are the two types of rays from which you must protect yourself and health experts point out that the UVA rays are more pervasive and penetrate deeper than UVB rays.
These rays have an effect on your central vision and can cause damage to the macula, which is a part of your retina in the back of your eye. UVB rays are best known for their role in sunburn and skin reddening but they can also harm your eyes and have been shown to cause more vision damage than UVA rays. Hence, to avoid corneal damage, it is critical to protect your eyes from UVB rays as exposure to harmful radiation can cause a variety of eye problems like macular degeneration, cataracts, Pterygium, cancer of the eyelids or corneal sunburn, depending on the frequency and intensity of your exposure, as well as the methods you use to protect your eyes.
Experts suggest adhering to the same eye care guidelines, such as washing your hands before handling contact lenses and wearing the appropriate eyewear when participating in certain sports and activities. Even when it’s cloudy outside, wearing sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection is essential.
Even if wearing contact lenses, have UV protection built-in. Sunglasses are still recommended because they protect the surrounding eye area and act as a barrier between your eyes and the summer heat, preventing dry eye.
Dehydration is more likely to occur during the summer months, affecting your body’s ability to produce tears. This can cause dry eyes, so it’s critical to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water.
Avoid sun exposure between 10 AM and 4 PM to protect your eyes from the most aggressive UVB radiation.
Wearing a wide-brimmed hat provides additional protection from the sun. It is helpful if you will be spending time outside where shade is not available.
Looking directly at the sun, even with protective eyewear, can cause significant damage to your eyesight.
