This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own.
Summer is almost here!! In some parts of the country it is already hot and the sun is shining bright.
We think of drinking plenty of water, wearing sunscreen (make sure it is safe too), wearing protective equipment when riding bikes, but do you think of your eyes? They are often overlooked in the summertime safety protocol.
I am delighted to be able to present you with this information as part of working with The Vision Council on behalf of The Motherhood. I attended a webinar with Dr. Adamopoulos, mom, optometrist and member of The Vision Council’s Better Vision Institute, on how damaging UVA/UVB rays could be for the eyes and how to protect our family.
I have always worn sunglasses~ at least when I was older. My parents have a pool so I loved spending summers by the pool. I don’t remember wearing sunglasses when I was little much and spent most of my time in the pool having fun. I doubt there were as many reasonable sunglasses for kids available like there are now.
When I was older, it was because of the glare, headaches and not wanting to get wrinkles around my eyes from squinting. Really. My kids have always had sunglasses, so they are used to wearing them. My oldest is never without sunglasses. I have to remind my youngest more often.
When we go to fun places like Disney World where we have to take them off frequently, we have sunglass straps so we don’t lose them. We always have several pairs around. We don’t buy very expensive sunglasses so this is possible, but do make sure they meet UV standards meet the standards mentioned in the webinar.
Dr. Adamopoulos cautions against buying knock offs and always buying from a reputable source. If you are unsure of the protection, your eye doctor can check them at your appointment. Be cautious of scratched lenses because they removes the protective coating, as well as looking through a yucky scratches.
Working around the farm all day in bright sunny weather is a great reminder to not forget our sunglasses. It leaves you squinting and that leads to a headache, in addition to all the other problems you were not aware of before today.
We often think of just the shining sun, but did you know that reflected UV light is just as damaging as direct UV?
Why is UV Protection Important?
Short-term vision problems:
- Photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye)
- Irritation
- Redness
- Swelling
- Hyper sensitivity to light
Long-term vision problems:
- Premature aging of the skin; wrinkles and sunspots
- Prerygium (abnormal growth on the eye and eyelid)
- Cataracts
- Macular degeneration
- Cancer of the eye, eyelid and surrounding skin
Did you know:
- Researchers actually believe that lighter eyes experience more UV damage and that’s likely due to the fact that they have a lower incidence of melanin – which is a protective pigment
- Children receive three times the annual sun exposure of adult
- By the time an individual turns 18, he or she will have acquired nearly 80% of lifetime exposure to UV
Tips for Choosing Sunglasses:
- Check for the UV sticker
- Darker lenses do not necessarily mean better protection
- Did you know that you can buy pool goggles with UV protection in them? You can get protection in the pool…when you or your kids get out of the pool, switch to your sunglasses while taking a break.
- Brown, amber and copper lenses work to reduce glare and improve contrast for activities like driving, golfing, water sports and snow sports
- Grey tint is popular because it distorts color the least
How to Protect Your Eyes:
- Wear UV-protective eyewear (UVA & UVB) as often as possible
- Non-prescription sunglasses
- Prescription sunglasses
- Clip-ons or fit-overs
- UV-coated contact lenses
- UV-protective goggles
- To know if your sunglasses filter out UVA and UVB, first look for a sticker or label on the lens or frame that indicates protection. If you don’t see a sticker or have an older pair of sunglasses, you can bring them to an eye care professional who can test them using a UV meter
- Dr. Adamopoulos advises to not buy from online auction sites, street vendors, or second-hand stores
If you’d like to learn more, visit The Vision Council and their Facebook page.
Do you and your kids wear sunglasses on a regular basis? Did this information make you want to be more conscious of it?
