As we explained in one of our previous blog posts – July is UV Safety Month :: Protect your Eyes from the Sun this Summer – proper eye protection is crucial, especially during the summer months when the sun’s rays are noticeably strong. Still, year round protection is crucial, even on bright winter days.
Exposure to UV rays can lead to several different eye problems, including macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygium, corneal sunburn, and skin cancer of the eyelids. So what is the easiest way to keep your eyes protected? Sunglasses!
“A substantial proportion of people still do not understand that UV exposure is harmful to the eyes as well as the skin,” says Paul Michelson, MD, chairman of the Better Vision Institute, the medical advisory arm to The Vision Council. “Even those who do understand, few understand it is the cumulative exposure that can be damaging.”
Because it is the cumulative effect of UV exposure that can be damaging, it is important to ALWAYS wear sunglasses. Still, many Americans fail to adhere to these safety recommendations.
Facts & Statistics about Sunglasses use in America
The Vision Council polled 10,000 adults from across the nation.
- 27% of people NEVER wear sunglasses
- Only 58% of parents encourage their children to wear sunglasses
- More than 50% of people either lose or break their sunglasses every year
- Only 16% or people that do wear sunglasses admitted they did so for eye health reasons
- Astonishingly, about 20% of people don’t believe their eyes are at risk from UV exposure
Remember, not only is it never too early to start wearing sunglasses, it is never too late to begin wearing them, either!
To learn more about Eye Protection, Harmful UV Rays, or Proper Eye Health, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, consultative optometrist Dr. Nathan Frank, and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com.
Located in Annapolis, Maryland, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.
Vision problems may be a natural part of aging. Losing your vision doesn’t have to be.
For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.
You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and YouTube as well!