The Dangers Of UV Radiation
It’s simple: exposing your eyes to UV radiation is dangerous. It doesn’t matter if the UV light is from natural or artificial sunlight. Both long and short-term exposure can cause damage to your eyes, which may compromise your overall eye health. There are several eye diseases and conditions caused by exposure to UV radiation:
- Macular Degeneration
- Cataracts
- Pterygium
- Skin Cancer
- Photokeratitis
The Solution
Consistently wearing sunglasses or protective eyewear with lenses that block UV light is the key to protecting your eyes from UV radiation. Your overall health will benefit from protecting your eyes from excessive sun exposure. So it’s an excellent idea to get into the habit of wearing sunglasses during outdoor activities.
Unfortunately, half the individuals surveyed don't wear sunglasses that genuinely protect their eyes. Several people didn’t realize their dime-store sunglasses didn’t block UV light. Many people felt children should wear sunglasses, too, but one glance at a park or ball field on a sunny day reveals the lack of follow-through in this area.
"Even though 75 percent of Americans report having concerns about UV eye exposure, less than one-third (31 percent) wear sunglasses every time they go outside, according to the 2016 VisionWatch survey of more than 10,000 adults 18 and older." – 2016 UV Protection Report from thevisioncouncil.org
So Why The Disparity?
Many people focus only on fashion or price when choosing sunglasses. This means they may purchase sunglasses that don’t adequately filter harmful UV radiation. Others don’t feel wearing UV protection is an absolute necessity all the time. Most people don’t realize the long-term health risks to their eyes caused by exposure to UV radiation.
Consistently wearing UV-blocking sunglasses will provide long-term health benefits.
5 Facts Regarding UV Protection for Eyes
If you’re one of those individuals, consider the following five facts to help eliminate these and any other excuses for not protecting your or your children’s eyes against the sun’s harmful UV rays.
- Experts stress the importance of UV protection for the eyes. In “How the Sun Affects Our Eyes: An Interview with an Optometrist,” author Denise Cripps details how not only is the accumulated effect of UV rays on eyes significant, but it applies particularly to those under 18. Protecting your eyes is crucial, and eliminating excuses for not protecting them is a worthwhile pursuit.
- You can have BOTH fashion and UV protection. Many individuals choose sunglasses based on style, but many fashion sunglasses fail to protect the eyes from harmful UV rays. Fortunately, many sunglasses also protect the eyes and look great on the wearer.
- Affordability is no longer an issue. While many sunglasses with UV protection can get pricey, there are just as many affordable options. With prices starting at a few dollars, cost no longer exists as an excuse for not wearing sunglasses.
- Options eliminate excuses. With the vast selection of styles available today, there’s no reason to compromise. There are a variety of over-prescription eyewear and safety sunglasses with UV protection to fit anyone’s unique situation. Even those wearing bifocals have terrific options with ONOS bifocal sunglasses and reading safety glasses.
Protecting children’s eyes doesn’t have to be expensive. Many parents hesitate to spend much money on sunglasses for their children. Let’s face it: kids can be rough or forgetful, often both. Fortunately, there are many inexpensive options to protect young eyes from UV rays. Additionally, many safety sunglasses guard against impact hazards, especially those associated with sports. Options are so affordable, under $3.00 each, that purchasing a backup pair makes sense too.
Sunglasses with wraparound frames will provide additional protection from harmful UV radiation.
UV Protection Requires Good Habits
Changing your habits can be a struggle, but persistence pays off. Educating yourself about the hazards of UV radiation is the first step to eliminating excuses. When it comes to UV protection, no reason should stand in the way of safeguarding your eyes. By establishing good eye safety habits and consistently wearing UV protection, you’ll enjoy a positive impact on your vision for a lifetime.
