There’s just not much as uplifting as spending time enjoying a sunny day in Charlotte, especially when the temps are within reason and you can enjoy some breaks in the shade of our high tree canopy. But just like we now know that we should never hang in the sun without sunscreen ~ we literally start every day out now with an application of our favorite sunscreen/tinted moisturizer ~ we’ve also learned from our partners at CEENTA that we should always wear our shades when outdoors. The sun’s rays can be quite harmful to your eyes if unchecked, even on a cloudy day.
UV rays – aka Ultraviolet light – fall in between visible light and x-rays in electromagnetic radiation. This radiation, accumulated over long durations of time without proper moderation or filtering, can lead to several eye conditions, such as cataracts, where your eye lens absorbs the UV rays, which cause damage and contribute to the progression of the cloudiness of cataracts.
UV rays can also cause growths, such as pterygium – a growth on the white of the eye and sometimes the cornea that can block vision.
Your corneas can also get sunburned. Photokeratitis, or corneal sunburn, is caused by a high-level of short-term exposure to UV rays, such as when you spend a long time at the beach or skiing without eye protection. Photokeratitis can be painful and may even cause temporary blindness.
Most seriously, UVA light can reach your retinas and break chemical bonds through ionization. This can increase your risk for developing macular degeneration, a retinal disorder that reduces your ability to see straight ahead, and which is a leading cause of vision loss in older Americans.
How to Protect Your Eyes from UV Rays
The good news is that protecting your eyes from excessive sunlight can be easy. Staying in shady areas can limit your exposure – though sun glare from reflective objects can still be an issue. Dr. Alexander Barnes, a CEENTA retina specialist who practices out of the Concord, Salisbury, and University offices, explains that like most things in life, moderation is key. “UV exposure can lead to acute changes in vision from solar retinopathy from staring at the sun for long periods and more chronic changes such as macular degeneration. Appropriate precautions like wearing sunglasses with UV protection can significantly mitigate one’s risk of vison-threatening complications,” Dr. Barnes says.
Sunglasses are your best bet for tackling UV rays, and can block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation, but there is a catch. Not all sunglasses are made the same, and while we love those Amazon cheapies too, they may not be suitable for protected time in the sun. The best sunglasses to use have polarized lenses with full UVA and UVB protection, so be sure to buy from a reputable source and check the protection coverage.
Wear Your Sunglasses Throughout the Day
Many people think the most important time to wear sunglasses is the middle of the day, when the sun is at its highest. But just as important is early morning and late afternoon, when the sun is potentially most damaging to your eyes.
In early morning or late afternoon, the sun is lower, much closer to eye level than in the middle of the day. That means our eyes are exposed to more UV radiation. When the sun is high in the sky, our brows block out some of that UV radiation. In spring, summer, and fall, your eyes could be exposed to as much as twice the amount of UV radiation at the beginning and end of the day than in the middle.
What About on Cloudy Days
While clouds do block some UVA and UVB radiation, they are more successful at blocking visible light, which means there is still the potential for sun damage. This is especially true if you will be enjoying an activity near a highly reflective surface, such as a day on the lake or at the beach, or if you’re out on the snow, or in areas of higher altitude. In addition, clouds can actually reflect UV rays into multiple directions, meaning that you can get exposure even when sitting in shade. Your eyes, as a result, can still face some of the same side-effects as if it was a sunny day.
The providers at CEENTA recommend you wear your shades whenever you’ll be outside for a while, including driving in your car. We like to have a couple of pairs of our favorite sunglasses ~ a pair for our bag, one for our car, and, of course, one for back-up when we can’t find those ’cause we moved them from their designated place!
Charlotte Eye Ear Nose & Throat Associates, P.A. (CEENTA) has nearly 140 providers in almost 20 locations bringing specialty care to the community. CEENTA provides comprehensive pediatric and adult eye, ear, nose and throat care, and highly specialized care, too.
These services include but are not limited to: audiology, allergy treatment, cataract surgery, cochlear implants, cornea diseases, diabetic eye care, glaucoma treatment, head and neck cancer, neuro-ophthalmology, oculoplastics, optical and contact lenses, pediatric airway care, sleep medicine, thyroid treatment, and voice and swallowing care.
To schedule an appointment with any of CEENTA’s board-certified physicians, please call 704-295-3000.
