At Eyecare Medical Group, we want to help our patients protect their eyes. One way we do this is by raising awareness of eye and vision issues every month.
Following the observances set out by the American Academy of Ophthalmology, July is dedicated to UV Safety Month.
As July is in the middle of summer, most people are spending time outdoors in high temperatures on sunny days. While summer activities are often fun, they can be dangerous to your health, including your eye health, if you don’t take precautions.
Luckily, there are simple things you can do to protect your eyes. Keep reading to learn how to protect your eyes from the sun during UV Safety Month!
How Can The Sun Damage Your Eyes?
You probably already know you should protect your skin from the sun by wearing sunscreen or staying in the shade. But it’s easy to forget how vulnerable your eyes are to the sun, too.
Continued exposure to the sun’s UV rays can change proteins in your eye lens, which can cause cataracts and other vision problems. UV exposure can also lead to eyelid cancers.
Staring at the sun can instantly damage your eyes. However, you should also be cautious of indirect sunlight bouncing off reflective surfaces like beaches or lakes, as this can lead to short-term vision changes.
Tips For Protecting Your Eyes From UV Rays
By taking precautions to protect your vision, you won’t have to worry about sun-related eye problems. To protect your eyes from the sun, follow a few easy tips:
Wear Broad Brimmed Hats
If you’re going outside in the sun, consider wearing wide-brimmed hats that provide more eye protection. They can also protect your head and neck from UV rays and deter sunburns.
Remember that you can still get sun damage when it’s cloudy, so always protect your eyes on any summer day.
Find The Right Sunglasses
You may wear sunglasses often when it’s sunny, but these won’t do much good if they don’t offer full UV protection. When choosing sunglasses, ensure they block both UVB and UVA rays, otherwise, your vision is at risk.
Be Mindful Of The Time Of Day
The sun is strongest during midday, so you’ll want to be extra careful to have sun protection outside in the afternoon. You should also be mindful of the altitude and if you’re around water, as these factors can strengthen the sun’s impact.
Don’t Look At The Sun
While it may seem like the most obvious advice, it’s still worth pointing out that looking directly at the sun can harm your vision. Children are more likely to look directly at the sun than adults, so take care to explain the dangers of this behavior to kids and ensure they also have adequate sun protection.
Learn More About Protecting Your Vision
If you’ve noticed changes to your eyesight, it’s wise to set up an eye exam. Vision changes can have many underlying causes, but it’s important to figure out what’s going on and rule out any concerning issues.
With a routine eye exam, you can also ensure you have the right glasses or contacts to see clearly and enjoy summer fun to the fullest extent.
Have you had your annual eye exam yet? Schedule an appointment with Eyecare Medical Group in Portland or Saco, ME, today!
