When preparing for a day in the sun, the first thing people think about is sunscreen. Most of us are aware of the affects that UV rays have on our skin, so we protect ourselves by covering our exposed flesh with clothing or lotion in order to avoid the painful feeling of a bad sunburn. But most people are unaware that our eyes can be sunburned too. Proper eye care is just as important when exposed to sunlight.

Our eyes are very sensitive to light, especially sunlight. If you aren’t wearing protective sunglasses when exposed to the sun for long periods of time, they can get burned. Common sunburn symptoms are burning pains, decreased vision, and an itchy feeling of a foreign object in your eye. More severe sun damage can cause partial or complete vision loss, retina damage and corneal damage.

If you are at high altitudes or in the snow, even more eye care precautions are necessary. At high altitudes, sunlight is more intense. If you are in the snow, even if you aren’t looking directly into the sun, when looking down at the snow, the reflection off the snow can be very powerful too.

When looking to purchase sunglasses, make sure they block 99-100% of ultraviolet rays. Some might be say “UV absorption up to 400 nanometers,” which provide 100% UV protection. If you have any questions or concerns about your eye exposure to sunlight, call the our offices at 1(877) 871 – 1684 for more help.

 

 

 

 

Leave a reply