ThinkAboutYourEyes.com

Ultraviolet Rays and Vision Health

Did you know that prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays may cause eye conditions that can lead to vision loss and blindness?

Ultraviolet radiation is composed of high-energy UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun. Recent studies have shown that without protection, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation may cause serious eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration and can lead to vision loss and blindness.

Everyone is at risk for eye damage from the sun and it is important to protect your eyes from the damage caused by even a single outing without protective eyewear. The same UV-A and UV-B rays that can damage skin and cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature aging can also damage your eyesight. Similar to sunburns on your skin, burns on the surface of the eyes usually disappear within a few days, but may lead to further complications later on.
So when you protect yourself from the sun, don’t just think about your skin– think about your eyes too.

UV-Related Facts

•    During the summer months the level of ultraviolet radiation is three times greater than in the winter.

•    Reflected sunlight off water, snow and pavement can be the most dangerous type of UV light because it is intensified.

•    Of the 20 million people with cataracts, an estimated 20% may be due to UV-rays.

•    Every year 3.2 million people go blind from eye conditions caused due to prolonged UV exposure.

What should you do?

Have fun in the sun, but remember to protect your eyes!

•    To protect your eyes, wear the right kind of sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat whenever stepping outside, even when it is overcast. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day, as the sun’s rays can still inflict damage through the clouds.

•    Wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays.

•    Ask your eye care professional. Sunglasses don’t necessarily mean UV protection. It is a myth that tinted glasses or all sunglasses protect you from UV exposure. UV protection is not a function of the color of the lens but of the material used. Therefore some clear lenses can protect you from harmful UV exposure too.

•    Don’t forget protection for the kids. Children are more vulnerable to dangerous UV rays and so it is especially important for them to wear hats and sunglasses. Keep children away from the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are the strongest.

Getting a complete annual eye exam is another important step you can take to help monitor and protect your vision health from UV rays. Early detection is crucial in preventing and treating eye diseases and conditions. Click here to find an Eye Care Professional near you.

Ultraviolet Rays and Vision Health

Did you know that prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays may cause eye conditions that can lead to vision loss and blindness?

Ultraviolet radiation is composed of high-energy UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun. Recent studies have shown that without protection, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation may cause serious eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration and can lead to vision loss and blindness.

Everyone is at risk for eye damage from the sun and it is important to protect your eyes from the damage caused by even a single outing without protective eyewear. The same UV-A and UV-B rays that can damage skin and cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature aging can also damage your eyesight. Similar to sunburns on your skin, burns on the surface of the eyes usually disappear within a few days, but may lead to further complications later on.
So when you protect yourself from the sun, don’t just think about your skin– think about your eyes too.

UV-Related Facts

•    During the summer months the level of ultraviolet radiation is three times greater than in the winter.

•    Reflected sunlight off water, snow and pavement can be the most dangerous type of UV light because it is intensified.

•    Of the 20 million people with cataracts, an estimated 20% may be due to UV-rays.

•    Every year 3.2 million people go blind from eye conditions caused due to prolonged UV exposure.

What should you do?

Have fun in the sun, but remember to protect your eyes!

•    To protect your eyes, wear the right kind of sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat whenever stepping outside, even when it is overcast. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day, as the sun’s rays can still inflict damage through the clouds.

•    Wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays.

•    Ask your eye care professional. Sunglasses don’t necessarily mean UV protection. It is a myth that tinted glasses or all sunglasses protect you from UV exposure. UV protection is not a function of the color of the lens but of the material used. Therefore some clear lenses can protect you from harmful UV exposure too.

•    Don’t forget protection for the kids. Children are more vulnerable to dangerous UV rays and so it is especially important for them to wear hats and sunglasses. Keep children away from the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are the strongest.

Getting a complete annual eye exam is another important step you can take to help monitor and protect your vision health from UV rays. Early detection is crucial in preventing and treating eye diseases and conditions. Click here to find an Eye Care Professional near you.

July is UV Safety Month

July is UV Safety Month, a national eye health observance designed to encourage people to protect their eyes from UV-related damage.

Ultraviolet Rays and Vision Health

Did you know that prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays may cause eye conditions that can lead to vision loss and blindness?

Ultraviolet radiation is composed of high-energy UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun. Recent studies have shown that without protection, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation may cause serious eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration and can lead to vision loss and blindness.

Everyone is at risk for eye damage from the sun and it is important to protect your eyes from the damage caused by even a single outing without protective eyewear. The same UV-A and UV-B rays that can damage skin and cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature aging can also damage your eyesight. Similar to sunburns on your skin, burns on the surface of the eyes usually disappear within a few days, but may lead to further complications later on.
So when you protect yourself from the sun, don’t just think about your skin– think about your eyes too.

UV-Related Facts

•    During the summer months the level of ultraviolet radiation is three times greater than in the winter.

•    Reflected sunlight off water, snow and pavement can be the most dangerous type of UV light because it is intensified.

•    Of the 20 million people with cataracts, an estimated 20% may be due to UV-rays.

•    Every year 3.2 million people go blind from eye conditions caused due to prolonged UV exposure.

What should you do?

Have fun in the sun, but remember to protect your eyes!

•    To protect your eyes, wear the right kind of sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat whenever stepping outside, even when it is overcast. Don’t be fooled by a cloudy day, as the sun’s rays can still inflict damage through the clouds.

•    Wear sunglasses that block 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays.

•    Ask your eye care professional. Sunglasses don’t necessarily mean UV protection. It is a myth that tinted glasses or all sunglasses protect you from UV exposure. UV protection is not a function of the color of the lens but of the material used. Therefore some clear lenses can protect you from harmful UV exposure too.

•    Don’t forget protection for the kids. Children are more vulnerable to dangerous UV rays and so it is especially important for them to wear hats and sunglasses. Keep children away from the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when the sun’s ultraviolet rays are the strongest.

Getting a complete annual eye exam is another important step you can take to help monitor and protect your vision health from UV rays. Early detection is crucial in preventing and treating eye diseases and conditions. Click here to find an Eye Care Professional near you.

July is observed as UV Safety Month by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) around the country to encourage everyone to protect their eyes from UV-related damage.

Ultraviolet Rays and Vision Health

Did you know that prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays may cause eye conditions that can lead to vision loss and blindness?

Ultraviolet radiation is composed of high-energy UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun.  Recent studies have shown that without protection, prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation could cause serious eye conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration, and potentially lead to vision loss and blindness.

Everyone is at risk for eye damage from the sun. Therefore, it is important to protect your eyes from the damage that even a single outing without protective eyewear, could cause.  The same UV-A and UV-B rays that can damage skin and cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature aging can also damage your eyes. Similar to sunburns on your skin, burns on the surface of the eyes usually disappear within a few days but may lead to further complications later on.

So when you protect yourself from the sun, don't just think about your skin– think about your eyes too.

UV-Related Facts

•    During the summer months the level of ultraviolet radiation is three times greater than in the winter.

•    Sunlight reflected off of water, snow, and pavement is intensified and can be the most dangerous type of UV light.

•    Of the 20 million people with cataracts, an estimated 20% may be due to UV-rays.

•    Every year, 3.2 million people go blind from eye conditions caused by prolonged UV exposure.

What should you do?

Have fun in the sun, but remember to protect your eyes!

•    Wear the right kind of sunglasses and a broad-rimmed hat whenever stepping outside, even when it is overcast.  Don't be fooled by a cloudy day, as the sun's rays can still inflict damage through the clouds.

•    Wear sunglasses that block 100 % of UV-A and UV-B rays.

•    Ask your eye care professional to see if you are protected.  Sunglasses don’t necessarily mean UV protection. It is a myth that tinted glasses or all sunglasses protect you from UV exposure. UV protection is not a function of the color of the lens but of the material used. Therefore, some clear lenses can protect you from harmful UV exposure too.

•    Don't forget protection for the kids. Children are more vulnerable to dangerous UV rays, and so, it is especially important for them to wear hats, sunscreen, and sunglasses.  Keep children away from the sun between 10:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m., when the sun's ultraviolet rays are the strongest.

Getting a complete annual eye exam is another important step you can take to help monitor and protect your vision health from UV rays.  Early detection is crucial in preventing and treating eye diseases and conditions. Click here to find an Eye Care Professional near you.

Vision Health

Did you know that there are no blood vessels in the cornea? It’s true. The cornea is the first and most powerful lens in the eye’s optical system and to keep it transparent, there are no blood vessels to deliver oxygen. Therefore the cornea relies on other sources for its oxygen supply. Your eye care professional can determine, through microscopic evaluation, if the cornea is getting the required amounts of oxygen, especially for contact lens wearers. This is a critical factor in keeping the cornea clear and healthy.

There are, however, blood vessels in the retina that can offer clues and warnings of serious health problems even before other symptoms occur. By directly examining these blood vessels, your eye doctor may detect early signs of diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, MS, and even cancer.

Interesting Facts

• People sometimes have red eyes in photographs, especially those taken with flash, due to the light that reflects off the blood vessels of the retina.
• The retina is about the size of a postage stamp. It has 130 million light-sensitive cells.
• Your eyes are composed of more than 2 million working parts
• Only 1/6th of your eyeball is exposed to the outside world

What should you do?

Eyes provide a window into the well being of your whole body. Of the thousands of parts of the human body, only one lets your doctor actually see inside – it’s your eyes. The eye provides a window into the well being of the vascular and neurological systems.

Getting a complete annual eye exam is the most important step you can take to help monitor and protect your vision and overall health. Early detection is crucial in preventing and treating eye diseases and conditions. Also, encourage your family members to focus on their vision health and to get a complete eye exam every year. Click here to find an Eye Care Professional near you.

Women's Eye Health

Did you know that over 70% of legally blind people are women?

And over two thirds of people suffering from visual impairments are women?

Every year, more women than men are diagnosed with eye diseases such as glaucoma, cataracts, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

Women also go through various stages of life that can cause changes in their vision, including pregnancy and post-menopause.

Some causes of vision changes and increased risk:

• Hormonal fluctuations at various ages can cause dry eye syndrome in women, bringing the number of female sufferers to 6 million a year as opposed to 3 million men.

• Fertility treatments can also cause refractive changes, dry eyes, puffy eyelids that obscure side vision and sensitivity to light due to migraine headaches.

• In pregnancy, if women experience blurred vision or see spots, they should discuss their symptoms with an eye doctor as this may be a sign of diabetes or high blood pressure.

• Women going through the post menopausal phase in their lives and receiving Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) treatments may be at an increased risk for cataracts.

What should you do?

Getting a complete annual eye exam is the most important step you can take to help monitor and protect your vision health.

Encourage the women in your life to focus on their vision health and to get a complete eye exam every year.

Click here to find an Eye Care Professional near you.

Prevent Blindness America (PBA) has designated April as national Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month™ in an effort to encourage women to make their vision health a priority and schedule a complete eye exam with their eye doctor. The goal is to promote the value of healthy eyesight among women.