Sunlight Radiation Can Seriously Damage Your Eyes

Sunglasses Year-Round Saves Eyesight


Tahlequah, Okla. -- Protect your entire family’s eyes from damaging UV radiation, whether from sunlight or artificial UV rays, by selecting proper sunglasses. According to the Environmental Protection Agency depletion of the ozone is increasing our daily exposure to UV radiation from sunlight and placing us at risk for serious vision damage.

Prevention is the best solution. Wear protective wrap-around sunglasses, optimally combined with a wide-brimmed hat for maximum protection. Whether you spend a great deal of time outdoors or not you need to wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays whenever going outside.

Due to the increase in radiation coming through Earth’s ozone layer, UV rays are contributing to eye damage, including certain types of cataracts, possibly macular degeneration, an eye disorder called surfer’s eye, snow blindness and skin cancer around the eyes.  More than 22 million Americans have cataracts, with a direct medical cost of $6.8 billion every year. The risk of developing these eye diseases can be lessened with proper eye protection.

UV radiation from the sun can damage not only the skin of your eyelid but also the cornea, lens and other parts of the eye.  It is advised that everyone wear proper eye protection when outside. At even higher risk are those who spend long hours in the sun: water sports enthusiasts, like boaters, fishermen, kayakers, river rafters, surfers, and skiers, as well as gardeners and hikers need to be mindful of protecting their eyes.

In addition to UV protection, consider other protective and vision enhancing sunglass options. These are particularly helpful for people who already have an eye disorder and for people involved in sports.

·         Blue-blocking lenses make distant objects easier to see, especially in snow or haze. Lenses that block all blue light are tinted amber. When driving, it's recommended that tinted sunglasses be gray to ensure proper traffic light recognition.

·         Polarized lenses reduce reflected glare, such as sunlight that bounces off snow or water.

·         Photo chromic lenses slowly darken or lighten as the amount of available light changes.

·         Polycarbonate lenses offer impact protection during potentially hazardous sports activities.

·         Mirror-coated lenses reduce visible light.

·         Gradient lenses come in single- or double- gradients. Single-gradient lenses are dark on the top and lighter on the bottom and they reduce glare while allowing you to see clearly. They're useful for driving, but not sports. Double-gradient lenses are dark on the top and bottom and lighter in the middle and are useful to wear during water or winter sports, but not for driving.

·         Colored lenses are available for people with eye disorders. Lenses are made to deal with specific vision needs, such as Macular degeneration (for glare control and contrast enhancement); Glaucoma and pre-cataract (for glare control, increased brightness and general comfort; Post-operative cataract (for moderate glare control and general comfort); Diabetic retinopathy (for contrast enhancement and general comfort; and Retinitis pigmentosa (for light sensitivity, glare control and contrast enhancement).

Ask your optometrist or ophthalmologist to research which lens is best for you.

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Project NATIVE offers free low vision workshops and eye health awareness for Native Americans in NE Oklahoma. For additional information and a workshop application, please contact us at (918) 456-5581.


Project NATIVE is funded by the Administration for Native Americans, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Grant #90NA8147-01-00. Project NATIVE, 110 W. Choctaw, Tahlequah, OK 74464.  Project NATIVE is administered by the American Indian Resource Center, Inc.


Article sources: EPA’s SunWise Program (epa.gov), National Eye Institute, US Food and Drug Administration and International Organization for Research on Cancer.