Winter Sun Eye Damage

Winter sun eye damage is really a thing! Many people do not realize that eye damage from UV light is possible in winter time. It actually poses a significant risk to our eye health and can cause conditions such as cataracts, photokeratitis, photo ageing and permanent skin damage by not protecting our eyes year round. Once people have had cataract surgery — which is often performed between ages 50 and 70 — the risk increases even more.

The industry standard is to provide protection against UV rays up to 380nm, but leading health organizations define UV radiation as up to 400nm. Most people are not aware of the protection level of their sunglasses. According to the WHO (World Health Organization), roughly 20 per cent of all cataracts are caused or worsened by UV radiation so it’s a real issue and the eyes and surrounding skin are a challenging area to protect.

Protection

Regular glasses offer some UV protection but many clear glasses to not offer any at all. And premium sunglasses are not the only option for UV protection though! Wearing a hat with at least a 3″ brim will also help. And don’t forget the sunscreen around your eyes and the delicate part of skin on your lids.

Remember your eyes need protection even on cloudy days too. The sun’s damaging rays can penetrate clouds! And  sun damage is not something that can be reversed.


Sources: Independent and AARP

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