Why It's So Important to Protect Your Eyes From the Sun

Why It's So Important to Protect Your Eyes From the Sun

Why It's So Important to Protect Your Eyes From the Sun

 

 

 

The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays are a powerful natural force that require us to take precautions when we are exposed to them. Doctors often emphasize the importance of applying sunscreen before going outside on a sunny day, but unless you see an optometrist regularly, you probably don’t have anyone advocating for the protection of your eyes. However, just like our bodies, our eyes are sensitive to the sun’s bright rays.

 

Dangers of Sun Rays

People often underestimate the power of the sun’s rays, especially because its effects are gradual. However, one hot day at the beach can result in a massive sunburn, sometimes referred to as sun poisoning, which causes blistering, headaches, dizziness, nausea, fever, and dehydration. This can be dangerous, and there’s no quick fix for a sunburn; you simply have to treat the pain and symptoms until your skin heals, which can take anywhere from a few days to weeks.

 

 

Meanwhile, the sun often quickens the eyes’ aging process, leading to eye problems such as cataracts and macular degeneration, both of which can lead to blurry eyesight and loss of vision, as well as several other long-term consequences. While cataracts are a clouding of the eye lens that can be removed, macular degeneration is caused by damage to the macula and cannot be cured.

This is why sunscreen and sunglasses are always recommended when you’re spending time in the sun. Even on an overcast day, it’s important to gauge the level of rays coming through the clouds. The sun is often able to penetrate through the clouds and be harmful, even though the sky isn’t blue and shining. These days can be just as dangerous as sunny days because people don’t suspect the dangers of the sun and therefore don’t take the necessary precautions against it.

Another similarly risky scenario is on snowy winter days when the sun is shining. People often associate the sun with the summertime and let their guard down in the winter. However, those who spend a lot of time in the snow usually figure out that the snow can increase your chances of a sunburn, as sunrays can reflect harshly off the snow and come up at you from the ground. This can also cause snow blindness.

 

 

Protecting Your Eyes

When sunlight reflects off of a variety of surfaces, it can be even more dangerous for your eyes. In these cases, you’ll need to have sunglasses handy to protect them. If you have a prescription for contacts, you may also be able to get contacts that have a UV protective coating on them to shield your eyes.

Protective eyewear, such as sunglasses, transitional lenses, or wide-brimmed hats, are essential for maintaining a person’s eye health; especially if you live somewhere with a lot of sun, although this varies depending on where you’re located and the time of year.

While UV ray protection may seem like mere advertising from sunglasses companies, a good, protective pair of sunglasses makes all of the difference when it comes to protecting your eyes.

If you’re uncomfortable wearing sunglasses and hats, you don’t have a lot of options aside from avoiding the sun as much as possible. Most people are usually naturally uncomfortable having the sun shining in their eyes, so you’ve probably noticed if you’re someone who simply avoids the sun and becomes a night owl during the long daylight hours of summer. Keeping your activities indoors while the sun is at its highest can be a good way to avoid it at its worst.

 

 

Eye Sensitivity

Our eyes are sensitive organs that react to light and help us perceive our surroundings. Although we can live without our sight, it takes a lot of adjusting and most people don’t know what they’d do without their vision. Therefore, it’s best to avoid letting excessive sunlight in our eyes, as this can lead to serious damage and irreversible consequences to our eyes.

The sun helps provide vitamins and energy that keep our planet turning. Its rays are forceful enough to reach us from almost 100 million miles away, which should indicate to us how powerful they truly are. Even though the sun is a part of our day-to-day lives, we need to recognize how important it is to protect ourselves against its effects.

Our eyes are gentle organs that need to be properly cared for in order to stay healthy for as long as possible. Regular visits to an optometrist, as well as sunglasses and hats to block the sun, are important precautions to ensure we protect our sight. Although it may seem unnecessary to protect our eyes from something as mundane as sunlight, you’ll likely notice the difference once you practice these habit.

 

 

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