"I
Wear My Sunglasses at Night..."
- Corey Hart (Pop Star)
"A lot of
good that will do for your eyes."
- Kevin J. Liu (East Lansing Ophthalmologist)
The reality is that the thinning of the earth's ozone layer means less of the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays are being blocked…
Damage to the eyes is cumulative and long-term and can increase the potential for:
- Higher risks
of cataracts and macular degeneration
- Increased risk of cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes
NOTE:
1998 Study by group ophthalmologists on Chesapeake fisherman who
had spent years working on the water: those who did not wear eye
protection had three times as many cataracts as those who wore sunglasses
or a brimmed hat (Cataract: clouding of the eye's natural
lens that can lead to blindness)
Factors
that affect UV intensity:
- Time of day - UV radiation highest between 10Am-2:00PM (rule of thumb: if your shadow is shorter than you, UV radiation is high intensity)
- Season - May to August highest UV radiation
- Weather - UV rays penetrate through haze and thin clouds; don't be fooled by a cloudy day
- Environment - UV exposure higher on snow, sand, water and concrete, since these surfaces reflect rays effectively
- Length of time outdoors
UV-related eye disorders are expected
to increase within the next decade -
Eye
Doctors recommend wearing sunglasses and a brimmed hat to protect
the eyes.
Individuals
at special risk of eye damage by UV rays include:
- People with
existing eye disease, including macular degeneration
- Those who
have had cataract surgery (an estimated 1Million Americans have
cataract surgery each year)
- People on prescribed photosensitizing drugs-drugs that make the skin more sensitive to light individuals should discuss with their prescribing doctor)
Get your free wraparound sunglasses
(we have kids' sunglasses, too!) at our
office. Call (332.6523) or email
us for
more information.