- It is no mystery that too much exposure of your skin to direct sunlight can cause damage over a period of time. However, what many people forget to realize is that the sun's UV rays not only damages your skin, but they can also damage your eyes. This is why it is very important to protect your eyes as well as your skin when spending time outside in the sun.
- When you are out in the sun, your eyes are exposed to two separate types of ultraviolet rays. These are UV-A and UV-B. Both types of ultraviolet rays are types of radiation. This radiation can absorb into the retina of your eyes and cause serious damage. This is why it is important to choose a pair of sunglasses that states protection against both UV-A and UV-B rays.
- There are many types of coatings for sunglasses in today's marketplace. There are sunglasses that automatically tint when exposed to UV rays, some that brighten specific colors, or even some that reflect light off the surface of the glasses to help reduce glare. However, none of these really protect against UV damage. This is why most sunglasses manufacturers are now coating sunglasses with a UV coating. This UV coating still allows light waves to enter through the lenses, but specifically blocks both UV-A and UV-B rays from penetrating the glass lenses.
- You may be tempted to buy cheaper sunglasses that do not offer UV protection. However, as UV rays exposure continues to increase as the environment and climate changes, your eyes will slowly be at a greater risk. Most commonly, exposure to UV rays can cause a sunburn of the retina called photokeratitis. Cancer of the eye can also occur with too much exposure to the radiation caused by ultraviolet rays. Blindness may also occur if too much damage has occurred to the eye because of the sun.
