UV Protection For Eyes Especially Important During Summer Months

Towson, MD, (May 19, 2008) – Ultraviolet (UV) exposure is a concern for many Americans, particularly in the spring and summer months, but most people are thinking about their skin, not their eyes. The American Optometric Association (AOA) warns that prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays and short wavelength light (violet and blue light) without proper protection may cause a variety of eye and vision disorders.

Overexposure to UV rays has been linked to cataracts; benign growths on the eye’s surface; cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eye; and photokeratitis, sometimes called snow blindness, which is a temporary but painful sunburn of the eye’s surface.

"Just as skin is 'burned' by UV radiation the eye can also suffer damage," says Dr. Brett Katzen, M.D., of Katzen Eye Group. "Wide-brimmed hats and caps can block about 50% of UV radiation from the eyes, but that isn’t enough protection."

The effects of UV radiation are cumulative, so it's important to develop good protection habits early in life, such as wearing sunglasses with UV protection. By educating the public about the dangers of UV rays on the eyes and the importance of choosing proper eyewear that provides the best UV protection, Katzen Eye Group is teaching their patients about long-term eye health.

Katzen Eye Group, along with the AOA, recommends these three steps in preventing eye damage from exposure to UV radiation:

• Wear protective eyewear any time your eyes are exposed to UV radiation, even on cloudy days and during the winter.
• Look for quality sunglasses that offer good protection. Sunglasses should block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
• Check to make sure sunglass lenses are perfectly matched in color and free of distortions or imperfections.

For additional information on how UV protection is critical for the eye, contact Katzen Eye Group at 443-632-2895.