How to Protect Your Eyes From UV Damage

When it comes to taking care of our bodies, we often overlook our eyes. But did you know your eyes can also get sunburned, just like your skin?

UV damage to the eyes is a real concern, and taking steps to protect them is crucial. From cataracts to macular degeneration, the potential long-term effects of UV exposure can impact your vision.

Understanding UV Damage

UV rays are the energy the sun emits. While a moderate amount of sun can be beneficial, excessive exposure to UV rays can harm the eyes.

Risks of Too Much UV Radiation Exposure

Over time, these rays can cause a range of conditions from minor irritations to serious eye diseases.

Cataracts – UV exposure speeds up the clouding of the lens, impairing vision.
Macular Degeneration – UV exposure can lead to macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss in the older population.
Sunburned Eyes – Excessive UV exposure can lead to sunburned eyes or photokeratitis, which is a condition that causes redness and irritation.
Other Conditions – UV exposure can also cause pinguecula, pterygium and other eye conditions that affect the cornea and the whites of the eyes.

The Role of Eyecare in Protecting Your Eyes

Regular eye care is your first line of defense against UV damage. Regular eye exams help detect any early signs of UV damage to provide timely treatment and prevent serious complications.

Your optometrist can provide personalized advice and treatment recommendations based on your needs and lifestyle. For instance, if you’re an outdoor enthusiast, your optometrist might recommend certain types of eyewear or caution you about the peak UV hours.

Practical Steps to Protect Your Eyes From UV Damage

Here are some things you can do to protect your eyes from UV.

Use UV-Protective Eyewear

UV-protective eyewear can shield your eyes from harmful UV rays. Look for sunglasses labeled as 100% UV protective or UV400, which block out the most UV rays.

Use Hats and Other Protective Clothing

Furthermore, wearing protective clothing like wide-brimmed hats can reduce the UV light that reaches your eyes when going out.

Avoid Direct Sunlight During Peak UV Hours

Remember, UV rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., so avoiding direct sunlight is best. However, if you have to be outdoors, take measures to protect your eyes.

Protect Your Eyes From UV Damage With Six One Six Vision Center

Protecting your eyes from UV damage is vital to maintaining good eye health. By taking some simple steps and integrating UV protection into your eye care routine, you can preserve your vision and keep your eyes healthy.

If you’re due for an eye exam or have concerns about UV protection, visit Six One Six Vision Center. Our expert team is ready to help you take care of your sight. Call us at (208) 514-1858 or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment. In addition, we can also provide contact lenses tailored to your needs.

COVID-19

To our Six One Six Vision Center Families,

Our office is fully open to serve your eye care needs. We cannot wait to see you in our office again! With the health and safety of our team and patients at the forefront of our minds, the following changes have taken place while we all do our part to fight this pandemic:

We ask that if you are experiencing a fever, shortness of breathe, or a cough that you reschedule your visit at this time.

We are asking our patients to complete as much of the typical intake paperwork and collecting of insurance information electronically to reduce the amount of team members they need to be exposed to at the office.

We have very strict cleanliness procedures for anyone who comes in to our office at every point of their visit to lower risk of potential infection.

Now more than ever, we need to take care of ourselves, our families, and our communities as best we can, while practicing safe social distancing recommendations. We will get through these difficult times together, and I promise you our office and our team will be here to support you as best we can during these changes, and will be even stronger once we can return to normal care.

Be well, stay strong, take care of each other.

– Six One Six Vision Center Team

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