The sun can be extremely hard on your eyes. And the risk isn’t limited only to bright spring and summer days. Your vision is also at risk of damage from harmful UV rays during the fall and winter months, too. And just because it’s cloudy outside doesn’t mean that the sun’s rays can do no harm. That means that you need to protect yourself — and your eyes — year round. Whatever your preferred outdoor activity, you need to take a few simple steps to prevent lasting, preventable damage to your vision.
Wear sunglasses. You’ll want to find sunglasses that block the full spectrum of UV rays, including UVA, UVB, and UVC. (UVB rays are those that are thought to cause the most damage to your eyes, but you want to completely limit your risk.) If you need prescription lenses, you can get your sunglasses made to limit UV spectrum rays. Wear quality sunglasses whenever you’re outside if you can, and while driving. Studies show that car windows don’t offer complete protection against harmful sun exposure. Questions about sunglasses? We have answers!
Know when the sun’s rays are the strongest. To protect your eyes and skin from damage from the sun’s rays, it is important to avoid or limit exposure to the sun between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., when rays are strongest. If you do need to go out in the sun during that time period, wear sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen.
Help your children develop good sun habits early. Know that sun damage is cumulative. Repeatedly spending time outside without proper eye protection can add up over the years and decades. Teach your children to protect their eyes every time they are in the sun, and make a pledge to do so yourself.
Have questions about your vision, how to prevent eye damage, or need to talk through an issue? Please reach out to us at Utah Eye Centers! We can ‘shine a light’ on your options. We look forward to meeting with you!