REMINDER: Protect Your Eyes from the Sun!

The ISPB, the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Optometric Association join together to stress the importance of protecting your eyes from ultraviolet
rays not only during the summer months, but also year-round. It is recommended that a person wears
a wide-brimmed hat or visor and sunglasses.

Studies have shown that ultraviolet radiation can cause permanent eye damage to the eye’s surface and its internal structures — the lens and the retina. Risk factors from these same rays can cause the development of pterygium (a growth in the corner of the eye), cataracts (clouding of the lens) and macular degeneration (breakdown of the macula).

Other risk factors include living at high altitudes or near the equator, spending prolong periods of time in the sun (either for work or play) and taking photosensitizing drugs such as psoralens (used to treat psoriasis), tetracycline, doxycycline, allopurinol or phothiazine, to name a few. Always check with your eye and health care professionals regarding your medications.

In selecting the proper sunglasses, keep in mind the following:

• Select a close-fitting pair of sunglasses with large lenses or wraparounds that block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-B and UV-A radiation.
• Choose gray or gray-green lenses for general use. If used for driving, make sure that outside colors are easily recognized when viewed through the lens.
• Contact lens wearers should wear prescription sunglasses instead of
  contacts or quality plano lenses over contacts.

ENJOY THE SUN,  BUT BE EYE SAFE!

The Visionary, published as a service of the Illinois Society for the Prevention of Blindness,
is available upon request. The information contained in this issue,
taken from sources considered to be accurate,
does not replace the need for professional eye care consultations and treatments.

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