Ultraviolet Light: what you can’t see can hurt you!
Are you planning a mid-winter getaway to a sunny Caribbean destination? Or how about a weekend ski trip to Whistler? Don’t forget about protecting your eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
There are three types of UV light: UVA, UVB and UVC. All are invisible to the naked eye. UVC is mostly absorbed by the atmosphere, and is not of much concern except in areas of very high altitude or where the ozone layer is thin. UVB is the type that burns the skin and can damage the eyes. Some eye diseases that can be caused by UV exposure include cataracts, photokeratitis (a burn to the surface of the eye), macular degeneration and pterygia. Practicing in Alberta, we see all these conditions- frequently UV exposure is a contributing, if not the causative, factor. Skin cancer is of particular concern around the eyes, since the eyelid tissue is very thin.
The best ways to protect yourself from UV radiation are as follows: 1.) Avoid direct sunlight exposure between the hours of 11 am and 2 pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest. 2.) Wear a wide-brimmed hat. 3.) Use good-quality sunglasses. This last point is worth expanding upon. Wearing a poorly-made pair of sunglasses can actually be more damaging to your eyes than wearing none at all. This is because the pupil dilates behind a coloured lens, allowing more harmful radiation inside the eye than normal. If a coloured sunglass lens does not provide 100% UV protection, your eyes are actually more at risk for damage.
Your sunglasses should protect you against 100% UV radiation. A wrap-around style is most effective, but using a clip-on over your regular glasses is also useful. Be especially cautious over water or snow, as these surfaces reflect up to 80% of UV radiation, giving you almost a double-dose!
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Ultraviolet Light: what you can’t see can hurt you!
Are you planning a mid-winter getaway to a sunny Caribbean destination? Or how about a weekend ski trip to Whistler? Don’t forget about protecting your eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
There are three types of UV light: UVA, UVB and UVC. All are invisible to the naked eye. UVC is mostly absorbed by the atmosphere, and is not of much concern except in areas of very high altitude or where the ozone layer is thin. UVB is the type that burns the skin and can damage the eyes. Some eye diseases that can be caused by UV exposure include cataracts, photokeratitis (a burn to the surface of the eye), macular degeneration and pterygia. Practicing in Alberta, we see all these conditions- frequently UV exposure is a contributing, if not the causative, factor. Skin cancer is of particular concern around the eyes, since the eyelid tissue is very thin.
The best ways to protect yourself from UV radiation are as follows: 1.) Avoid direct sunlight exposure between the hours of 11 am and 2 pm, when the sun’s rays are strongest. 2.) Wear a wide-brimmed hat. 3.) Use good-quality sunglasses. This last point is worth expanding upon. Wearing a poorly-made pair of sunglasses can actually be more damaging to your eyes than wearing none at all. This is because the pupil dilates behind a coloured lens, allowing more harmful radiation inside the eye than normal. If a coloured sunglass lens does not provide 100% UV protection, your eyes are actually more at risk for damage.
Your sunglasses should protect you against 100% UV radiation. A wrap-around style is most effective, but using a clip-on over your regular glasses is also useful. Be especially cautious over water or snow, as these surfaces reflect up to 80% of UV radiation, giving you almost a double-dose!