Sunglasses are More than Fashion Accessories

The sun's ultraviolet, or UV, rays not only burn your skin, but your eyes as well. Most of us wear sunglasses for comfort, because bright sunshine makes seeing difficult. If you’re doing something like driving a car, a motorcycle or riding a bike, clear, comfortable vision can be the difference between getting home and getting into an accident. But sunglasses that protect against UV rays also have long term benefits and should be worn by children and adults. The effect of UV radiation is the eye ages faster. The light intensity of a sunny day makes the use of sunglasses necessary to see comfortably. Damaging effects can be intensified as a result of glare off water, snow and windshields. All sunglasses worn outside should provide 100 percent UVA and UVB light protection. If you've been exposed to too much UV radiation include red eyes, swelling, light sensitivity, tearing and feeling like something is in your eyes. A more serious, short term problem is sunburn of the eye, or photokeratitis, also known as ''snow blindness" because it happens to those out in the snow on sunny days. Loss of vision can last up to 48 hours in severe cases. Long-term effects of too much UV exposure includes,

• "Surfer's eye" or pterygium: An abnormal but usually benign growth on the eye's surface which can itch, swell, and become irritated. It can be removed surgically but it may return
• Cataracts: The progressive clouding of the lens of the eye
• Age-related macular degeneration: The macula is located at the back of your eye, in the center of the retina. If the nerve cell in the macula is damaged, colors may appear dull and fine details are blurred
• Cancer: Of the eye, eyelid, or nearby skin

Some medication can your make eyes more sensitive to the sun's rays, including birth-control pills, sulfa antibiotics, diuretics and tranquilizers. With winter approaching, be aware that UV rays not only come from the sun but can be reflected towards you off the snow. Sufficient eye protection need not be expensive. Choose a pair of sunglasses that offer protection from both UVA and UVB rays. Look for a label stating the sunglasses meet ANSI (American National Standards Institute) standards. ANSI is a private, non-profit organization first established in 1918. It sets specific standards for evaluating eyewear such as impact resistance, lens thickness, projectile penetration and optical quality. ANSI ratings have become the eyewear industry’s standard. Glasses that protect your eyes won’t be worn unless they’re comfortable. Quality sunglasses can be custom fit like prescription glasses. You may want to buy several pairs so they’re always handy and losing a pair won’t mean you have to endanger your vision. You can get prescription and non-prescription sunglasses at the Lehigh Valley Center for Sight. We will make sure they give you the protection and comfort you need with the style you want. If you have questions about sunglasses or the conditions that too much UV exposure can cause, contact us at 610-437-4988 or fill out our contact form so we can start the conversation and work together to protect your sight. Houman Ahdieh, MD Lehigh Valley Center for Sight https://www.lvcenter4sight.com eyedoc@lvcenter4sight.com

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