Don't Forget the Sun Glasses

Summertime is outdoors time. Whether you are sun tanning in the back porch, going to the beach, hiking or just taking a walk, don't forget the sun glasses. The eyes are just as vulnerable to the effects of the sun's rays as the skin.

Sun radiation comes in the form of ultraviolet rays and high energy visible rays. The ozone layer filters most of these radiations but enough do escape into the earth to cause damage to the skin and eyes.

There are three types of ultraviolet rays (UV) all of which have the potential to cause skin and eye damage.

• Ultraviolet A is a low energy radiation which can penetrate the cornea and reach the retina. Long term UVA exposure can cause cataracts and sometimes, macular degeneration, a disorder of the retina.
• Ultraviolet B (UVB) has a longer wave length. Although filtered by the ozone layer, enough radiation reach the earth to cause eye damage. UVB can burn the cornea, a condition known as photokeratitis. Snow blindness is an example of photokeratitis and is a risk especially in high altitude.
• Ultraviolet C (UVC) has the longest wave length and the greatest potential to cause UV damage. Fortunately, the ozone layer blocks this effectively and little escapes into the earth surface.

High energy visible radiation (HEV) or blue light is another type of sun radiation. It has the potential to damage the retina on prolonged exposure.

The eyes can be protected from harmful solar exposure by:

• wearing a wide brimmed hat.
• wearing sun glasses that block UV and HEV rays 100 percent
• limiting sun exposure

Remember, children and infants have delicate eyes and should have sun protection. They, too, need sun glasses that block sun rays 100 percent.

Enjoy the outdoors but don't forget the sun glasses.