Ultraviolet, Sunglasses and the Eye
Spring is upon us.Care is required to protect the eye from ultraviolet radiation found in sunlight. It doesn't happen overnight. Years of exposure, beginning in childhood, to the sun's UV-A and UV-B radiation may result in eye health problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration when you are older.
Over-exposure to UV radiation can also cause benign growths on the eye's surface: cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes and photokeratitis sometimes called snow blindness can also occur. This is a temporary but very painful sunburn of the eye's surface. Wide brimmed hats can block up to 50 percent of UV radiation but to get the maximum protection you need to wear sunglasses that block 99-100% of both UV-A and UV-B on sunny days and bright cloudy days as well. It is even more important for children to have this protection. Young eyes let more UV rays inside to internal tissues.
The colour or darkness of sunglasses has no bearing on UV protection. Lenses that change tint with the amount of ultraviolet radiation are useful protection under most but not all conditions. Sunglass labels may be very misleading. Dr. Mayers suggests that you purchase sunglasses where equipment is available to test their UV protection capabilities.
Avoid using very inexpensive sunglasses as the lenses may be warped and paradoxically can cause pupils to dilate and let even more ultraviolet light in to the lens and retina.
Some of the more advanced disposable soft lenses have UV protection incorporated directly in the lens itself, but sunglasses are still required for bright days. See the Spectrum Chart
(Most name brand sunglasses are available through the opthalmic dispensary in this office.)
We will be happy to answer any questions that you may have.