Maybe you’ll get a chance to head east to the coast this summer. Maybe you’ll stay local and visit Harris or Jordan; or maybe you’ll just log some time at the pool.
We often hear about the importance of sunscreen to avoid being sunburn and developing skin cancer. Something not discussed often enough is the need to protect your eyes from the sun and from long-term and permanent damage. In North Carolina we’re blessed to have many sunny days, so eye protection is critical year around. Yet the summer months pose the greatest threat to eye damage from the sun.
We went to local optometrist Dr. Phil Vito to learn more about protecting the only set of eye that most of us will ever have.
“Almost everyday we see patients whose vision problems can be directly related to the harmful affects of UV rays from the sun.”
Ultraviolet (UV) rays are invisible rays of light that are part of the energy that comes from the sun. These rays of light can be the cause of many serious eye diseases when absorbed by your eyes. Cataracts, a clouding of the lens, and Age-related macular degeneration which is the deterioration of the eye’s macula, or sensitive center of the retina, can be worsened when proper protection is not used.
“Almost everyday we see patients whose vision problems can be directly related to the harmful affects of UV rays from the sun.”
Your eyes do have some natural defense against UV rays, and these defenses are squinting or tearing of your eyes due to the bright outdoor light. Sunglasses with UV400, UVA & UVB blocking offer added protection. We suggest that everyone, including KIDS, have sunglasses while enjoying the outdoors especially during the summer months. Cheap or “throw away” sunglasses may not provide any of the UV ray blocking and result in a form of ultraviolet burn, like snow blindness, affecting the sensitive areas of your retinas. Polarized lenses cut out light from one whole meridian, typically the horizontal one. This minimizes the glare from light that bounces off water, the hood of your car or a shiny road surface. Polarization is especially useful for fishermen and people that do a lot of driving.
I am often asked, “What is the best color for prescription sunglass lenses?” Sunglass lens colors are really a personal preference. Some change your perceptions of color, brightness and contrast, and some don’t. It is also important to get lenses that are ground to ‘fit the frame’ versus ‘punched out’. This manufacturing method leads to minimize lens distortion and improved clarity of vision.
Here are some top tips to keep in mind for high quality sunglasses:
- Styles that have both a performance advantage and sleek fashion styling.
- Lightweight and durable frame materials such as polyamide, which keeps its shape even under stress.
- No slip temple and nose pads, often made of rubber, that keep the sunglasses in place even in the heat of competition.
- Changeable lens systems that allow the wearer to use different lenses for desired activities (Beach, hunting,…) as well as simple protection from potential flying objects.
- Polarized lenses for glare reduction and better contrast, especially on the water.
Dr. Vito is one of the doctors from Holly Springs Eye Associates, and has been serving Holly Springs both through his practice and being involved in the community for the past 15 years.
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