The Truth About UV Rays and Your Eyes

While most of us are aware of how ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage our skin, fewer realize the serious risks they pose to our eyes. Just like our skin, our eyes can suffer from overexposure to the sun's harmful rays—sometimes with lasting consequences. Luckily, a simple solution exists: quality sunglasses.

In this blog, we'll explore how UV rays affect eye health, the conditions they can cause, and how to choose the right sunglasses to protect your vision.

What Are UV Rays?

Ultraviolet rays are a form of electromagnetic radiation emitted by the sun. There are three types:

• UVA: Can penetrate deep into the eye and may contribute to aging and long-term damage.

• UVB: Mostly absorbed by the cornea and lens but significantly more harmful in the short term.

• UVC: Mostly filtered by the ozone layer, so it poses little threat under normal conditions.

Despite their invisibility, UVA and UVB rays can lead to various eye disorders if we don't take precautions.

How UV Rays Affect Your Eyes

UV exposure can cause both short-term discomfort and long-term eye damage. Here are some of the most common issues:

1. Photokeratitis (Snow Blindness)

This is essentially a sunburn on your cornea. It can occur from intense UV reflection off surfaces like water, sand, or snow. Symptoms include pain, redness, tearing, and temporary vision loss.

2. Cataracts

Prolonged UV exposure is a known contributor to cataract formation—a clouding of the eye’s natural lens that can blur vision andeventually require surgery.

3. Macular Degeneration

This is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. UV light may accelerate damage to the macula, a part of the retina responsible for central vision.

4. Pterygium (Surfer’s Eye)

A growth on the white part of the eye that can become inflamed and cause discomfort. UV rays, wind, and dust are known to trigger this condition.

5. Skin Cancer Around the Eyes

The eyelids and skin surrounding the eyes are delicate and vulnerable to UV-induced cancers like basal cell carcinoma.

Why Sunglasses Matter

Sunglasses do more than cut glare—they act as a physical barrier against UV radiation. But not all sunglasses are created equal.

What to Look For:

• 100% UV Protection: Always check labels to ensure the lenses block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays.

• Wraparound Frames: These help block light from entering at the sides.

• Polarized Lenses: Reduce glare but don't necessarily offer more UV protection—combine with UV-blocking features.

• Lens Color: Grey, green, and brown lenses are best for preserving natural color balance while reducing brightness.

• Fit and Coverage: Larger lenses provide more coverage, shielding the eyes and surrounding skin.

Kids and UV Protection

Children’s eyes are more susceptible to UV damage because the lenses in their eyes are clearer, allowing more UV rays to penetrate.

Encourage kids to wear sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats during outdoor play.

Final Thoughts

Eye protection isn’t just for sunny beach days—UV rays are present even on cloudy days and during winter. Make UV-blocking sunglasses a year-round habit to preserve your eye health long-term. Just as you wouldn’t skip sunscreen, don’t skip your shades. We have so many different options for frames and can even put your RX in the lenses of your sunglasses!