ARE YOUR EYES AT RISK?

Taking care during the summer months will future-proof your vision for the years ahead

- NATALIA LUBOMIRSKI

We all know we should slather on sun lotion to protect our skin from sunburn, but many of us neglect our eyes during summer. In fact, eyes are 10 times more sensitive to the sun than our skin. Excessive sun exposure can cause irreversible damage to eyesight and can even lead to blindness. Here’s how to keep yours safe…

KNOW THE DANGERS

If your eyes are exposed to too much UV radiation, you could be at an increased risk of conditions including corneal sunburn, skin cancers on your eyelids and around the eyes, cataracts and related progressive vision loss, and macular degeneration. Sunburned eyes can occur when sunlight shines off water, sand and other reflective surfaces into your eyes. UV rays burn the surface of the eye and can cause pain, redness, blurriness, and even temporary vision loss.

CHOOSE SUNGLASSES WISELY

Sunglasses will help protect your eyes, so it’s essential to wear them on both sunny and cloudy days – when UV rays can still cause damage. Worryingly, nearly three-quarters of us who wear sunglasses are more concerned about whether shades look good, rather than if they’re safe to wear.* But this vanity could cost us dearly.

‘Look for sunglasses that offer UV400 or 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays,’ says registered optometrist Sarah Farrant.** Avoid tinted glasses, because they can trick your eyes into dilating, allowing more UV light to enter without offering protection, and wear a wide-brimmed hat.

BE SWIM SAVVY