Sunshine and warm weather are calling and it’s UV Awareness Month, so let’s make sure to take care of our eye health this summer. If you are going to be spending time outdoors in the sun, here are five useful summer eye health tips to keep your eyes and vision protected.
1. Wear UV-blocking Lenses
Wear eyeglasses or sunglasses with UV (ultraviolet) protection and wear them any time you go outside. Both are important, as your eyes can receive UV exposure anytime the sun is out, not just in the middle of the day. Some UV light penetrates cloud cover as well. According to the American Cancer Society, “UV-blocking sunglasses are important for protecting the delicate skin around the eyes, as well as the eyes themselves. Research has shown that long hours in the sun without protecting your eyes increase your chances of developing certain eye diseases.”
Some prescription eyeglasses (and even contacts) have a UV protective treatment — make sure this is true for your lenses if you wear yours during the day. Remember that small eyeglass frames do not cover as many angles as face-hugging ones and, of course, contact lenses with UV protection only cover a small fraction of the surface of your eye.
Many sunglasses offer UV protection but verify before you buy that they block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. UVB rays are the main cause of sunburns and are absorbed by the outer layer of your skin, while UVA rays penetrate deeper and contribute to wrinkles and premature skin aging. Both UVA and UVB rays contribute to skin cancer.
Remember, it is the UV treatment that does the work, darker lenses do not offer higher protection. If you prioritize sun protection for kids, make sure their sunglasses have full protection. No matter how fun they can be, some “toy” sunglasses offer no UV protection!
2. Pick the Best Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes
Sunglasses are the perfect summer fashion accessory, but more than that they are important for healthy vision. Ultraviolet rays from sunlight can cause significant damage to your eyes, and you’re especially at risk if you use certain skin creams or antibiotics, or if you have light colored eyes, like blue, hazel, or green. Children are even more susceptible to UV-related eye damage. Here are 4 tips for selecting the right sunglasses to protect your eyes.
- Check the labels on your sunglasses.
Check your sunglasses for a consumer-protection label stating they’re 99-100% UV-absorbent or provide UV absorption up to 400 nanometers (nm).
- Consider bigger frames or wrap-around glasses.
Bigger frames and lenses, and wrap-around styles, give you more UV protection because they block peripheral rays.
- Choose the right color of lenses.
Gray lenses are a very popular color of sunglass lenses. Why? Gray lenses allow the color of objects to be seen in their purest form and useful in other situations like driving, outdoor activities, and everyday use. Green and brown lenses are good options to help protect your eyes, too. Overall, you should evaluate the different lens colors and select the one that works best for you and your needs.
- Consider lens enhancements for your prescription sunglasses.
Lens enhancements can increase your eye comfort when you are wearing your sunglasses. Three lens enhancements to consider are:
- Photochromic lens enhancements can change the lens color from clear to dark when they’re exposed to sunlight. This can help the wearer avoid having to switch from regular glasses to sunglasses.
- Anti-reflective coatings cut down on glare by reducing light reflected from the lens surface. Reduced glare can support clearer vision.
- Polarized lenses block out sunlight glare that bounces off windshields, pavement, and other smooth surfaces. Polarized lenses can help images appear sharper and clearer.
3. Wear a Hat to Protect Your Eyes
Embrace the big, floppy sun hat, the desert trekker type with a neck covering, or even a bucket hat with a generous brim. In fabrics, the designation for protection is UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) rather than SPF (sun protection factor) seen on sunscreen lotions.
What kind of hat should you get? It’s up to your own personality and needs. A darker underbrim helps keep glare down, and vents can assist in keeping your head cool on hot days.
No matter which style or brand of hat you choose, it’s better to steer away from loose mesh construction in your hat, whether that’s the back of a trucker hat or the open-weave straw on a casual hat. The more solid the material, the less chance the sun has to sneak through. Many companies offer tested UPF 50+ hats so you know you’ll be protected from the sun.
Another benefit of wearing hats is that you’re protecting so much more than your eyes! You’ll be helping to protect delicate skin on and around your head: your ears, neck and much of your face.
4. Seek Shade When Possible
When the sun is bright, a shadow cast by a solid object can provide protection. Clouds might seem “shady” but clouds are nothing more than a thin veil between you and the sun’s rays, blocking far less UV than you might think (and how much the clouds block can vary dramatically). Some studies even show that certain cloud conditions increase UV exposure! On the other hand, the shadow of a building, an awning, or even a leafy tree helps by physically blocking you from direct sunlight. Plus, hanging out under a tree offers a nice holistic benefit of just feeling good being in nature.
Umbrellas can be a good choice for blocking the sun, especially those designed for sunny days. While you may only reach for an umbrella if rain is on the way, know that a UV-blocking umbrella or one with a dark and heavy fabric can give you some much-needed, instant shade on a sunny day.
5. Watch Out for Other Forms of UV Exposure
There are a few other ways worth mentioning that your eyes can be exposed to harmful UV light. First, tanning beds can have high levels of UV, no matter how often you use them. If you do decide to use a tanning bed, make sure to always wear those little goggles that are provided.
If you spend time near water or other highly reflective surfaces, you could get sun exposure from reflections like light surfaces, water, and snow. In those cases, it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses and apply sunscreen to your face, even if you’re wearing a hat.
Finally, summer eye health includes protection from UV, but it also means being careful during sports and protecting your eyes around fireworks. We all want to be able to see those gorgeous sights as long as we can!
Eye Health in the Summer and All Year Long
If you’re ready to keep your eye health in clear view, VSP® Individual Vision Plans can help. No matter the season, VSP has you covered with vision insurance plans for nearly everyone. Learn about VSP benefits and savings today or compare vision insurance plans and find the right plan for you.
Information received through VSP Individual Vision Plan’s social media channels is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice, medical recommendations, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
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