With long days and summer heating up, it is important to remember the dangers of that bright sun’s rays. July is UV Safety Month, and its hot temperatures are the perfect reminders of the importance of sun safety. Not only do UV rays cause sunburns and tans, but exposure will also negatively impact eye health. If you are going to be outdoors for an extended amount of time, it is important to safeguard your eyelids and vision all year round. 

UV Rays and Your Eyes

UV rays are invisible emissions of radiation that come from the sun, tanning beds, some lasers as well as mercury vapor, florescent, halogen, and incandescent lighting. These waves are classified into the following 3 different groups: UVC, UVB and UVA. ¹  

UVC rays do not reach us as they are absorbed by the upper atmosphere. UVB rays are strongest at higher altitudes and during the summer season. These rays cause snow blindness, corneal sunburns, and skin cancers. UVA rays are the most dangerous as they pass through clouds, glass, and clothing. These rays are absorbed by the lenses of our eyes, which can damage the retina, contribute to the occurrence of cataracts, and cause conjunctival cancers. ² Overexposure to the sun without glasses can lead to retinal burns or solar retinopathy, which can cause permanent vision impairment. It is important to keep eyes protected.

Tips to Practice Sun Safety

The body relies on the sun to produce vitamin D so when soaking up the rays, take safety measures starting with sunscreen and sunglasses. Use a minimum of SPF 30 and select UV-blocking protective eyewear that block both UVA and UVB rays and provide 100% UV or UV400 protection. Never look directly at the sun even when wearing sunglasses.

Midday is when the sun is at its strongest, and it is stronger when reflected off water, ice, sand, and snow. Limit exposure between the hours of 10:00AM and 4:00PM or seek shade when outside during that time, even on cloudy days. Before you head out, grab a hat. The wider the brim, the better. Whether you are lounging by the pool, taking an after-dinner stroll, or just running errands, shielding skin will help fend off premature aging, sun damage and certain melanomas.

Proactive Detection

When you commit to daily sun-safe practices, you reduce risks of vision loss. Since many eye issues begin without symptoms, comprehensive eye exams are vital to early detection and diagnoses of eye conditions and diseases. Like a beach hat’s brim, bigger is better and an optomap® image shows 82% or 200 degrees of the retina in one capture and it is taken in less than a second. If there are findings, the images can easily and immediately be shared with specialists for further review. Many eye disorders can be fixed, slowed and/or reversed but the earlier the detection often relates to the better the outcome. 

Take time this summer to schedule an optomap for you and your family. Visit our website today to find a list of nearby providers then get outside and enjoy the season safely.

_{1.      What is UV radiation and how does it affect health? (medicalnewstoday.com)  Zia Sherrell, MPB 8/24/2023}

_{2.    Eye Protection - The Skin Cancer Foundation}