5 Ways to Protect Eye from UV Rays

How do UV rays damage the eye?

Ultraviolet (UV) light comes from the sun, lasers, welding machines, and tanning beds. When your eyes are exposed to too much UV light, it can increase the chances of having eye problems like cataracts, age-related macular degeneration, and even skin cancer around the eyes.

Just like your skin can get a sunburn, your eyes can get something called a corneal burn from too much sun, especially in high places or where the sun reflects off water.

Not only can too much sun hurt your eyes and vision, but it can also make wrinkles and fine lines develop faster around your eyes. So, it’s important to protect your eyes from too much sun.

5 Ways to Protect Eye from UV Rays 

1. Wear sunglasses

Wearing sunglasses is the best way to keep your eyes safe from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Sunglasses act like a shield, blocking harmful UV rays to protect your eyes. To get the most protection, it’s good to choose sunglasses with category 3 lenses and a wraparound frame. The category 3 rating tells you how well the sunglasses block UV rays on a scale from 0 to 4, as explained by the Cancer Council. They suggest wearing sunglasses when the UV level is 3 or higher, which is common in places like Australia since it’s close to the equator.

Wraparound sunglasses are snug frames that fit closely to your face, providing extra protection by keeping the sun away from your eyes. It’s important to wear sunglasses all year round, even on cloudy days, because the sun can still harm your eyes. So, put on those shades to keep your eyes safe!

2. Sunscreen

Spending too much time in the sun is a big reason why some people get skin cancer. This can happen anywhere on your body, even on your eyelids and the skin around your eyes. The Skin Cancer Foundation says that around 5 to 10 percent of skin cancers are found on the eyelids.

To protect your face from the sun, use sunscreen with at least SPF 15 and put it on again every two hours. This helps keep your skin safe from the sun and lowers the chance of getting skin cancer.

3. Never gaze directly at the sun

To keep your eyes safe from the sun’s harmful rays, never look directly at the sun. Doing this can damage the sensitive parts of your eyes, especially the retina. The Australian Academy of Science calls this solar retinopathy, and it can harm the rods and cones in your eyes, possibly creating a blind spot in the center of your vision, known as a scotoma.

To avoid hurting your eyes, don’t stare at the sun, and make sure to wear sunglasses when you’re outside. Sunglasses help protect your eyes from sun damage. If you think you may have harmed your eyes by looking at the sun, it’s a good idea to see an eye doctor, called an optometrist, for a check-up. They can tell you if your eyes are okay or if they need some care.

4. Using Transition Lenses

Transition lenses, also called photochromic or adaptive lenses, are a great choice for people who need glasses but don’t want to keep switching between regular glasses and sunglasses. These lenses have a special coating that makes them darken when exposed to sunlight. The more sunlight they get, the darker they become. At Oscar Wylee, we have these lenses for all types, and we offer Transitions lenses in 1.6 and 1.67 indexes. These transition lenses are tough and last a long time. You can get them in true grey or brown colors.

5. Safeguard the Eyes of Children

It’s really important to keep kids’ eyes safe from the sun because they spend a lot of time playing outside. According to the Mayo Clinic, kids’ eyes are still growing, so they struggle more to block out harmful UV rays compared to adults.

At Oscar Wylee, we have sunglasses made just for kids, like the Chip frame. Chip has category 3 lenses, which means it gives good protection from sun glare and UV rays. These sunglasses are also tough, making them perfect for active kids. Just like you’d use sunscreen to protect your child’s skin, it’s smart to use sunglasses to keep their eyes safe too.