Wearing sunglasses has a bigger impact on your eyes than you might expect
During those sunny summer days, we protect our skin by putting on some sunscreen. Sunscreen with a high factor prevents sunburn. Likewise we protect ourselves from the sharp rays of sunlight by wearing a pair of sunglasses. But did you know that wearing sunglasses is not always good for your eyes?
There is a certain time of day when you’d better not wear your sunglasses.
Eye damage
A published research from the US National Eye Institute in 2014 shows that UV rays can damage the eye lens protein. Over time, this can even result in the eye condition called cataract. Additionally, there are also signs that UV damage can increase the chance of getting macular degeneration. This is an important factor in age-related blindness. Short-term eye damage, called photokeratitis, can also be caused by the sun. For people this often results in temporary blindness or blurred sight.
Sun damage
The American eye specialist Dr. Rebecca Taylor explains what’s what to Time Magazine. She explains that the most common problem with UV light is that you can’t see it. When you don’t wear any protection, the light will directly penetrate your eyes and your eyes are very sensitive to that. There are also certain factors that can increase the sun damage to your eyes. Dr. Stephen Foster from Harvard Medical School explains that water, snow, and car windows can cause a reflection of sunlight, which causes your eyes to take in twice the dose of UV rays. Additionally, at great heights, the rays of the sun are stronger. This increases the risks of getting eye damage.
Find out on the next page when you should not wear sunglasses.
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