By Lindsay Ercanbrack
Although the sun can have damaging effects on the eyes during the summer months, winter may be even worse for them.
“Ultraviolet rays eventually affect the eyes like they do the skin,” said Colleen Malouf, president of Friends for Sight in Salt Lake City. “Long term exposure causes you to lose immunity from the sun and can really impact your vision.”
Cataracts, which cloud a person”s vision, are the biggest problem associated with sun exposure. Malouf said people are getting cataracts at much younger ages than they used to.
Nationally, about 20.5 million people over 40 years old have cataracts, and 114,200 people in Utah over age 40 are suffering with them.
No one is immune from harmful UV rays, but adults who spend a lot of time outside, those who have had cataract surgery and those who are on certain medications such as birth control are at higher risk for eye problems from the rays, according to the Friends for Sight Web site, www.for-sight.com
In the winter months, it seems protection may not be necessary.
“The sun is actually stronger in the winter than in the summer because it reflects off the white snow,” Malouf said.
Being on the ski slopes all day without goggles causes over-exposure to the eyes and creates snow blindness, which can result in sight loss for up to 24 hours.
“Because people”s sight comes back after awhile, they don”t think of it as a serious problem,” Malouf said. “Over time, these problems really affect long term vision.”
Because people are living longer, they are seeing the negative effects of not taking care of their eyes over time, Malouf said. Protecting the eyes now will save from potential blindness later on.
A good pair of sunglasses will provide the protection eyes need.
“Sunscreen is essential to protecting your skin, but a good pair of sunglasses will help protect your eyes,” Malouf said.
Susan Ayer, an optician at Knighton Optical said the biggest protection comes from the sunglasses” lens. She said people should find a lens that will block out 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B rays.
Bill Codner, an optometrist in Orem, said there are three key factors to look for when choosing a protective pair of sunglasses.
First, the lens needs to be dark enough, he said. When looking in a mirror with the glasses on, the eyes should not be seen.
Second, Codner said the lens should be able to absorb ultraviolet light. Even inexpensive sunglasses will provide this absorption.
Thirdly, look for the optical quality of the lens. The best lens will be free of distortion. Codner said brand name glasses provide the best optical quality.
