Are You Keeping Your Eyes Sun Safe?

Most of us know the importance of protecting our skin from the sun, but our eyes are susceptible to UV damage too. It means that sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement, they’re vital for protecting your vision, says Kim Jones

- Kim Jones

Ultraviolet awareness: The sun’s UVA rays can contribute to the onset of macular degeneration. “This is a condition where the retina becomes damaged, resulting in central vision loss,” explains Sharon Copeland, optician at Feel Good Contacts ( feelgoodcontacts.com).

“Studies have shown that exposure to UVB rays increases the risk of cataracts, clouds that form on your eye’s lens, obscuring vision and your ability to focus on objects,” she adds.

“Cataracts are the primary cause of vision loss for people over 40 and remain the world’s leading cause of blindness.”

Watch out for the burn: Photokeratitis is where your cornea becomes sunburned – typically by light reflecting from snow, especially at high altitude where the sun’s UV rays are stronger. It’s often called snow blindness but it can happen when rays reflect from surfaces such as sand or water, too. Symptoms include eye pain and blurry vision.