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Are you and your Family UV Protected?
June 2006 - As you and your family prepare for the hot summer months ahead, don't forget about protecting your skin and especially your eyes from harmful ultra-violet (UV) rays. According to a new study, sponsored by Transitions Optical, American consumers are unaware of the sun's danger to their eyes. This study revealed over 80 percent of Americans know that extended exposure to the sun can cause skin cancer, but only nine percent know it can harm the eyes.
"The awareness gap signals the continued need for education," said Carole Bratteig, manager of education and training for Transitions Optical. "This extreme response is a red flag that [people] simply do not understand the importance of preventative eyewear for their long term vision protection."
Before you and your family go out without a pair of sunglasses, take note of the following ways UV rays can damage your eyes:
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Cataracts
- Melanoma
- Tissue growth on the eyes
- Sunburn of the outer surface of the eye
- Changes in color and night vision
- Wrinkles around the eyes
The survey also found that parents were not as likely to choose UV blocking lenses for their children as they would be for themselves. Although 82 percent of parents feel it is important for children to wear sunglasses, the study revealed that parents are not as likely to get UV blocking lenses for their children.
Children spend a majority of their time in the summer outside and are therefore more susceptible to harmful UV rays. "Millions of parents are putting their children's vision at risk," said Susan Taub, M.D., F.A.C.S., of the Taub Eye Clinic in Chicago, IL. "The sun can do as much damage to your eyes as it can to your skin. This is especially true for children, whose risk is higher because the lens in their eye doesn't block as much UV rays and because they spend so much time outside."
Protecting yourself and your children from the effects of UV rays on your eyes is easy! Wearing sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection is the best way to shield your eyes from the sun as well as dirt, dust and other particles that can irritate the eyes. For more information on how to protect your family's vision, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. To find a doctor in your area, use the Check Yearly Doctor Locator to the left.
Our Preventive Care section has more information on how to protect against UV rays and ways to determine which sunglasses are best for you.