Don’t your eyes need sun protection?

Not really

While we often hear that our skin needs protection from the sun, few people realize that our eyes also need protection. The damage caused by UV rays to the eyes is obvious because the UV radiation in sunlight can penetrate the transparent structures of the eye, such as the cornea and lens.

For example, long-term exposure to UV rays can lead to serious eye diseases such as cataracts, which cause blurred vision, and macular degeneration, which affects the central area of ​​vision.

In addition, short-term strong ultraviolet radiation can also cause acute photoelectric eye inflammation, which manifests as eye pain, tearing, difficulty opening the eyes, etc. Snow blindness, which we often hear about, is a typical ultraviolet damage, and in severe cases there is a risk of blindness.

Therefore, it is necessary to use sunglasses or wear goggles with UV protection. It should be noted that not all dark sunglasses can effectively block UV rays. When choosing sunglasses, consider those marked with UV400 protection or those that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB. If the sun is not strong, you can also consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat, which can help block some UV rays.

Also, try to avoid prolonged, unprotected outdoor activities during the hours when UV rays are strongest (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.).

Author: Tang Jiaoqing, MD, attending physician of dermatology

Review | Feng Jun, deputy chief physician of the Dermatology Department of Sinopharm Tongmei General Hospital