3 Tips for Protecting Your Eyes From UV Light

By Tim Fitzgerald on Aug 11, 2020 @ 02:00 PM

Whether you’re spending your summer out and about or in your backyard, you probably wear sunscreen to protect your skin from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. But what about protecting your eyes? The sun’s UV rays can do a lot of damage to your vision, and it can even make some of the symptoms of common eye diseases a lot worse. So here are three quick tips that can help you keep your eyes protected and healthy while you’re out in the sun!

Wear the Right Sunglasses: Wearing the right sunglasses might be the one of the most important things you can do to protect your eyes. Good sunglasses are made to block out UV rays and protect your eyes and the skin around them from sun damage. Make sure to wear sunglasses that are rated to block 100% of UV rays when you are outside. If you already wear glasses, look into polarizing lenses that are rated to block 100% of UV rays to wear over your prescription, or in place of to protect your eyes when in contact with the sun.
Don’t Look Directly at The Sun: This one sounds like a no brainer as most people learn not to look directly at the sun as children, either from a parent or from too long of a gaze that leaves them with a not-so-fun headache. But it can be an easy, and dangerous lesson to forget momentarily. Looking into the sun is one of the most harmful things you can do to your eyes. Looking directly at the sun vastly increases your exposure to the sun’s UV rays – enough to begin damage to your retinas in just a few seconds, called solar retinopathy.
Wear a Hat: You might think wearing a hat protects your skin more than your eyes, but hats can do wonders for keeping your eyes safe. Skincancer.org points out a good hat can block “as much as half” of the UV rays from the sun. To get the best protection, wear a hat that has at least a 3-inch brim and doesn’t have any holes in it!

These are just three ways you can protect your eyes from UV light. But protecting your eyes from the sun is just one part of taking care of your eyes. If you are looking to learn more about protecting your eyes and promoting your vision health, start with your diet. Check out our FREE Food for Eye Health Infographic by clicking the image below and downloading!