As the weather changes and the sun becomes brighter in the early summer days, sunglasses really do prevent damage to your eyesight. Constant exposure to sunlight can cause damage to the retina. According to Prevent Blindness America, the sun releases radiation in many forms. Ultraviolet (UV) rays can hurt your vision.
The upcoming month of May has been declared UV Awareness month to help educate consumers the importance in protecting your eyes and eye health.
Your eyes can be sunburned which is known as photokeratitis and could result in temporary loss of vision. Pterygium, a growth of tissue that forms on the white of the eye could require surgery.
Most eye wear today, even contact lenses, should absorb these rays, but check to make sure you have what works. Sunglasses should indicate that they block 100% of both type of rays. Make sure labels specify the information correctly.
Prescription lenses that change color, darken in bright light tend to protect well but you do have to be patient for the time it takes for them to adapt in changes of light. Some lenses are tinted grey to block rays but may not have all the protection you need. You want to check with your eye doctor on the best protection for you especially if your daily sun exposure is high.
“We want to stress the importance of protecting the eyes from UV rays, especially to young people,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness America. “Although we may not notice any ill effects of UV exposure today, it can greatly impact our ability to see clearly in the future.”
If you have a vision problem and need to see a healthcare provider, vision insurance is confusing and your health insurance may cover costs to see a doctor or even offer discounts. Check into your existing coverage for more information. Sunglasses are a much more reasonable option than dealing with the prospect of vision and eye disease. Even life insurance rates will be higher when you health is in question.