subject: Sunglasses Are More Than Just A Fashion Gadget [print this page] Sunglasses are widely considered as essential to the wardrobe as shoes and handbags, but it's often easy to forget they also serve a more basic, but important purpose: to protect the eyes from the harmful rays of the sun. "UV rays have a cumulative effect over time and can lead to serious eye diseases that don't always have a cure. This is why the best line of defence is prevention through quality sunglasses that block out these rays," says Dr. Daryan Angle, an optometrist with IRIS the Visual Group. "Children, in particular, need protection as their eye tissues are more susceptible to sun damage and they tend to spend more time outdoors."
Thinking about stepping outside without sunglasses? IRIS lists the following reasons to cover up this summer:
* Sunburn. Exposure to UV rays reflected off surfaces can cause photokeratitis, which is essentially sunburn to the surface of the eyeball (cornea).
* Age related-macular degeneration. AMD is the leading preventable cause of vision loss in Canadians over age 50. While there is no cure, proper UV protection is a good preventive measure against AMD alongside healthy lifestyle and eating habits.
* Wrinkles. A good quality pair of sunglasses helps protect the collagen elastin support network in the skin around the eyes.
* Cancer. Eye lids and the sensitive skin around the eyes can develop melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
* Cataracts. Long-term UV exposure increases the risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the eye lens that causes blurred vision, affecting long distance vision.
It's important to note that sunglasses of questionable origin or lacking in UV protection can actually make things worse, as dark lenses cause pupils to dilate, allowing more harmful light into the eye. A UV protection rate of 100 per cent is the standard.
"As we spend more time outdoors in the summer, sun protection for the eyes should be a top priority right next to sunscreen and a hat," says Dr. Angle.
More information about sun protection for the eyes is available online at blog.topons.com
