Sun protection for the eyes: how to protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation

Author: Dr. Victor Derhartunian 26 February 2024

The sun is an indispensable source of light and heat, but its UV rays can also cause serious damage to our eyes. It is therefore crucial to protect your eyes from the sun to avoid long-term health problems and preserve your vision. In this blog post, we’ll take an in-depth look at why it’s important to protect your eyes from the sun, the consequences of inadequate protection and how to effectively protect your eyes from the harmful effects of the sun. From choosing the right sunglasses to other protective measures, we will provide practical tips and advice…

At a glance: Tips for optimum sun protection

There are several effective ways to protect your eyes from the sun and minimize the risk of sun damage.

  • Wear sunglasses with UV protection: Choose high-quality sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. Make sure that the sunglasses are labeled to indicate that they block UV rays.
  • Use of polarized lenses: Polarized lenses can help reduce glare from reflected light, especially during activities such as driving, water sports or snowshoeing where the sun’s reflection off surfaces can strain the eyes.
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat: Complement your sunglasses with a hat that has a wide brim to provide extra protection from UV rays. A hat can protect not only the eyes, but also the surrounding face and neck from sun damage.
  • Avoid the sun during midday: The sun is at its highest between 10am and 4pm. Try to stay in the shade or indoors during these times to minimize exposure to intense UV radiation.
  • Wear sunscreen around the eyes: Use a sunscreen with a high sun protection factor (SPF) and apply it generously around the eyes to protect the sensitive skin. Be sure to apply a sun-protective lip balm to protect the lips from sunburn too.
  • Regular eye examinations: Have your eyes examined regularly by an ophthalmologist to detect and treat potential problems early. A regular eye examination is particularly important if you have an increased risk of eye diseases or if you notice changes in your vision.
  • Avoid smoking: Smoking increases the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts and macular degeneration, especially when combined with sun exposure. Avoid smoking to protect the health of your eyes. Easier said than done!
  • Moisturize your eyes: If necessary, use artificial tears or eye drops to keep your eyes moist and relieve dryness. Dry eyes are more susceptible to damage from UV rays.
  • Healthy diet: Eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants can help support the health of your eyes and protect them from the harmful effects of the sun. Eat foods such as dark leafy greens, carrots, berries, fish and nuts, which contain important nutrients that can protect the eyes from damage caused by UV rays.

By implementing these measures, you can effectively protect your eyes from the sun and maintain the long-term health of your eyes. Remember that protecting your eyes is a lifelong task and that regular check-ups and healthy lifestyle habits are crucial to optimally protect your eyes – whether from the sun, natural ageing or other eye diseases.

The world through perfect sunglasses – what makes them special:

Good sunglasses should have several important features to effectively protect the eyes from the harmful effects of the sun.

  • UV protection: The most important aspect of sunglasses is their UV protection. UV rays (ultraviolet rays) can damage the eyes and cause various eye diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration and photokeratitis. Good sunglasses should offer 100% UV protection and block both UVA and UVB rays.
  • Polarized lenses: Polarized lenses reduce glare caused by reflected light from smooth surfaces such as water, snow, roads or cars. They improve visual comfort and clarity while providing additional protection for the eyes.
  • Good fit: Sunglasses should fit snugly on the face to prevent light from entering from the side. A poor fit can cause UV rays to enter the side of the eyes and impair protection.
  • Large coverage: Ideally, sunglasses should be large enough to fully cover the eyes and provide additional protection from side light and wind. Sunglasses with wide arms or side shields are particularly effective at preventing light from entering from the side.
  • High-quality lenses: High-quality lenses are scratch-resistant, shatterproof and offer a clear view. They should also be distortion-free to ensure precise vision.
  • Colored lenses: Different colors of lenses can offer specific advantages. For example, gray or green lenses can provide natural color perception, while yellow or orange lenses can enhance contrast. The choice of color depends on personal preference and the intended use.

UV rays are invisible and can be harmful on both cloudy and sunny days. The UV protection of sunglasses is determined by the coating on the lenses, which has been specially developed to block UV rays. There are different types of UV rays, including UVA, UVB and UVC. A good pair of sunglasses should block all of these types of UV rays to ensure complete eye protection.

Keep your eyes open when buying new sunglasses: health in harmony with your style

It is important to look at the label or product description when buying sunglasses to ensure that they provide adequate UV protection. Most high-quality sunglasses come with a UV400 label, which means that they block 100% of UV rays. It is recommended to buy sunglasses from trusted brands or opticians to ensure that they provide the necessary UV protection and are of high quality. It is always worth going for quality here. And stylish sunglasses are an investment that will protect you from the sun for years while complementing your outfits.

Who needs to protect their eyes from the sun in particular?

Everyone’s eyes need to be protected from the sun, regardless of age, gender or skin color. Nevertheless, there are certain groups of people for whom special attention should be paid to protection from UV rays:

  1. Children: Children’s eyes are particularly sensitive to UV rays as their eyes are still developing and their natural protective mechanisms are not yet fully developed. It is therefore extremely important to protect children’s eyes from the sun, especially during the intense midday hours.
  2. People with fair skin and blue or green eyes: People with fair skin and light eye colors often have less natural pigmentation, which makes them more susceptible to damage from UV rays. They should therefore take special care to protect their eyes from the sun.
  3. People with certain eye conditions: People with certain eye conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration or a history of photokeratitis have an increased risk of damage from UV rays. It is therefore particularly important that they protect their eyes from the sun to avoid further complications.
  4. After laser eye surgery: Sunglasses protect you from bright light after laser eye surgery and also offer protection from foreign objects that could get into your eyes. They also prevent you from touching your eyes without thinking about it.

When you should definitely think about sun protection for your eyes:

  • On the beach: The reflection of the sun’s rays from sand and water can increase the intensity of UV rays and put additional strain on the eyes. It is therefore particularly important to wear sunglasses with UV protection on the beach.
  • In the mountains: UV radiation is more intense at higher altitudes as there is less atmosphere to filter the rays. Skiers and mountaineers are therefore exposed to an increased risk of sun damage to the eyes and should take appropriate protective measures. An important tip that you as an Austrian will no doubt already know – it also makes skiing and hiking more fun.
  • During outdoor sports: Outdoor activities such as hiking, cycling, golfing or tennis can involve prolonged exposure to the sun. It is important to wear sunglasses with UV protection during these activities to protect your eyes.

Risks to your eyes from too much sun:

Too much sun exposure can cause various types of damage to the eyes, as the eyes are very sensitive to UV rays. Here are some of the possible effects of excessive sun exposure on the eyes:

Photokeratitis caused by the sun

This is a type of sunburn “in” the eyes caused by overexposure of the cornea (the outer layer of the eye). It usually occurs after brief, intense exposure to UV rays and can lead to symptoms such as redness, pain, tearing, sensitivity to light and blurred vision. Similar to sunburn on the skin, photokeratitis can be uncomfortable but usually heals within a few days.

An increased risk of cataracts

Long-term exposure to UV rays increases the risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the lens of the eye that can impair vision. UV rays can damage the proteins in the lens and lead to the formation of cataracts, which, if left untreated, can lead to visual impairment and even blindness.

Macular degeneration: Severe damage

UV rays can also increase the risk of age-related macular degeneration, a condition in which the macula, the area of the eye responsible for central vision, is damaged. This can lead to blurred or distorted vision in the center of the visual field and, in advanced stages, can result in significant vision loss.

Pterygium:

This is a growth of tissue on the conjunctiva of the eye caused by overexposure to the sun. A pterygium can irritate the surface of the eye, cause dryness, redness and foreign body sensation, and in some cases can impair vision if it becomes large enough and grows over the cornea.

Avoid conjunctivitis with sunglasses:

The conjunctiva, the transparent tissue that covers the white part of the eye and the inside of the eyelids, can be irritated by UV rays, which can lead to conjunctivitis. This often manifests as redness, pain, itching, tearing and the sensation of a foreign body in the eye.

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Author:

Dr. Victor Derhartunian

Nachdem er sein Handwerk von den beiden Pionieren der Laserchirurgie gelernt hat, gehört Dr. Victor Derhartunian zu den führenden Augenlaser-Chirurgen. Er leitet die Praxis in Wien und kann seine Patienten in fünf Sprachen beraten.