Eyes are a very important part of the body, and maintaining good vision quality is a vital consideration for most Australians. One of the most common causes of serious damage to the eyes is prolonged exposure to the sun. As a nation, Australians are very aware of how harmful the UV rays from the sun can be, yet the eyes and the area around the eyes are often neglected when it comes to sun protection.
The sun can cause many different eye problems, and some of them are very serious, like cataracts, macular degeneration and blindness. It's also the leading cause of cancers of the eye and eye area including melanoma, corneal cancers and retinoblastoma.
Liberal application of sunscreen to the eye area and wearing a hat are both good ways to help prevent eyes from becoming sun damaged. However, the only way to properly protect your eyes is to wear sunglasses. Here are three key factors to make sure that your sunglasses will provide your eyes with the protection they need.
1. Choose good quality sunglasses
Not all sunglasses are created equal, and for optimal sun protection, your sunglasses need to be good quality. Only buy sunglasses that meet Australian standards for sun protection to ensure that the damaging UV rays can't reach your eyes.
All sunglasses sold within Australia must have an EPF (Eye Protection Factor) rating. Opt for sunglasses with the highest EPF rating of 10 for the best damage prevention.
2. Wear your sunglasses all year round
It's a common misconception that sunglasses are only needed during the summer and on days when there is full sunshine. Unfortunately, UV rays are present all year round, and they even pose a risk on cloudy days. UV rays can also be reflected upwards from water or reflective surfaces.
Make a habit of wearing your sunglasses whenever you're outdoors. Even short periods of UV exposure on a regular basis are enough to do serious and lasting damage to your eyes.
3. Get prescription sunglasses for vision impairments
Many people neglect to wear sunglasses because they require prescription glasses to correct a vision impairment. There's a real danger in this because the UV rays can be magnified by the lenses of the glasses, increasing the risk of sun damage to the eye.
Ordering a pair of prescription sunglasses from your optometrist is the simple solution to this problem. This way you'll still have excellent vision outdoors without running the risk of exposing your eyes to the sun on a daily basis.
Share16 August 2017
Hello! Welcome to my blog. My name is Karl and today I would like to introduce you to the subject of looking after your eyesight. For many years, I didn't give my eyes much thought. I always thought that my eyes would look after themselves. However, I got older, I noticed that I found it difficult to read signs at a distance and to make out friends faces as they approached me. My wife suggested that I visit an optometrist and have my eyes checked. I was fitted with glasses which have improved my vision. I hope you enjoy my blog.