(Newswire.net — July 9, 2013) Limerick, PA — July is UV Safety month and while most of us know that our skin needs protecting, most people don’t realize that our eyes are ten times more sensitive to UV light than our skin. Not only that, but children’s eyes are at the greatest risk of UV damage. Big pupils and clearer lenses mean up to 70 per cent more UV light reaches the retina than in an adult’s eye.
Latest figures from World Health Organization estimate that this lack of natural eye protection combined with the disproportionate amount of time children spend playing outdoors could mean that as much as 80 per cent of a lifetimes’ UV is absorbed into the eye by the time a child reaches the age of 18.
So, what makes UV rays so harmful to our eyes? Exposure to UV rays has been linked with loss of sight and conditions such as cataracts and photokeratitis – more commonly referred to as ‘sunburn of the eye’. To make matters worse, cumulative exposure is a primary risk factor for AMD or age related macular degeneration. AMD is the leading cause of vision loss. Too much sun can also lead to cataracts which cause the lens to become clouded and lead to diminished vision. This is an extremely common ailment which affects one in three people over the age of 65.
“The best way to protect your eyes are by using sunglasses, and in fact to prevent as much possible UV exposure they should be worn even on cloudy days and in the winter. Not all sunglasses are created equal, of course, so you’ll want to get only those with the best quality lenses in order to ensure that you are blocking as much UV radiation as possible,” said Dr. Paist of Limerick Eye Associates.
A few other things to consider when choosing sunglasses are that lenses with a gray tint will provide you with the least change in color. Sunglasses that have a wrap-around style more effectively block light (and as a consequence UV rays) from the side of your face. Many sunglasses feature polarization which is a very effective way to protect your eyes from the sun.
Don’t forget to protect your kid’s eyes as well, especially since UV exposure is cumulative over their lifetime. So, protecting young eyes now will ensure decades of healthy sight later.
Limerick Eye Associates serves the Limerick area as well as the surrounding areas of Collegeville, Royersford, and Pottstown. For more information about our practice please check out our website: http://www.limerickeyeassociates.com/