Protecting your eyes is just as vital as caring for your skin. There are two UV rays present in sunlight; UV-A and UV-B.
UV-A rays primarily penetrate the skin, speeding up the aging process, while UV-B rays produce sunburns on the skin.
Over time, exposure to sunlight may increase the risk of cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, eyelid growths, and eyelid cancer. Therefore, you need adequate eye protection from UV rays year-round. These are some guidelines to follow to ensure your eyes remain safe while being outdoors:
- Wear wraparound sunglasses with 100% UV ray protection. Sunglasses are still needed, even for those with contacts.
- In addition to wearing sunglasses, wear a 3-inch brim hat for eyelid protection.
- Staring at the sun, especially during an eclipse, can cause solar retinopathy.
- Your eyelid skin is the thinnest of the entire epidermis, and UV rays can induce dryness, noticeable wrinkles, droopiness, etc.
- Avoid tanning beds as they pose the same risk as the sun.
- Children are also at a higher risk and have greater photosensitivity. Protecting their eyes early on is essential to smoother optic growth into adulthood.
- Sunlight is the strongest from midday to early afternoon, at higher altitudes, and when reflected off the water.
Early detection is key to diagnosing the amount of damage caused to your eyes by prolonged sun exposure.
