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Sunglasses

How to Protect My
Eyes from the Sun
by Dr. McCoy

The right pair of sunglasses goes a long way toward protecting the eyes from damage caused by ultraviolet light (UV). Long term damage from UV light leads to eye disorders such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and eyelid cancers. A corneal ultraviolet injury, similar to sunburn, can happen on a bright day, and can be very painful.

Some tips on protecting the eyes from short and long term exposure to the sun include:

• Sunglasses should provide 90-100 percent protection for both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The price of sunglasses is not an indicator of their level of protection, but instead may reflect better durability of frames, higher quality lenses or better fashion.
• Sunglasses should cover the entire eye area, including the eyelids, and should wrap around to the temples. Full coverage such as this prevents damaging rays from entering from the side and may also reduce the drying effects of the wind.
• Wearing a wide-brimmed hat along with sunglasses will further block rays from the sun. Fifty percent of sunlight comes from directly overhead, and may slip past sunglasses.
• The color of the lenses does affect the level of protection. Choosing a solid color such as gray, green, or brown is the best for general wear.
• Anti-reflective coatings and polarizing filters help to decrease glare.
• Contact lenses with UV protection are important, but do not fully protect the entire eye. Contact lens wearers should additionally wear sunglasses.
• Children's eyes need to be protected, since they are more prone to sun damage because their natural lenses are crystal clear.
• It is important to never look directly at the sun as this can directly damage the retina.
• Intra-ocular lens implants after cataract surgery often include an ultraviolet filter. Nevertheless, sunglasses will protect the parts of the eye not protected by the implants.

To schedule an appointment, please contact Sonoma Eyeworks Optometry at 707-578-4200.

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