Cover up your eyes this summer to avoid eye health problems

April 30, 2010

With the temperatures heating up, more people are taking the necessary precautions to ensure their skin is not damaged by the sun. However, some individuals may forget to sport tinted sunglasses, which can prevent eye conditions caused by UV rays.

In addition to applying sunscreen, individuals should wear a hat with a visor and don sunglasses to shield their eyes, according to the Wall Street Journal. Both precautions can effectively shield your peepers, as the sun's harmful UV rays could cause irreversible damage to the eyes over an extended period of time.

According to the American Optometric Association, there are three variations of UV rays. UV-C is immediately absorbed into the ozone layer and therefore does not present any threat to vision. However, UV-A and UV-B rays can cause macular degeneration and cataracts, both of which can result in a loss of vision.

The organization cautions that the longer the eyes are exposed to UV rays over time, the more risk an individual has of developing one of these eye conditions.