During the summer, we spend countless hours outside enjoying the beautiful weather. But with the warm weather comes the summer sun! We usually do a good job of protect our skin by wearing hats, long sleeve shirts, and applying sunscreen, but most people are unaware about the effects the sun can have on the eyes, too. Just as we apply sunscreen to protect their skin, with all the upcoming outings, activities, and vacations we have planned, it’s important to take steps to protect our families’ eyes as well…
I wrote this review while participating in an Influencer campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and received a promotional item from Mom Central to thank me for participating.
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc., manufacturer of ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses, aims to remind us about the importance of protecting our eyes from the sun, especially those of our kids. Younger eyes are more susceptible to exposure to the sun’s harmful rays than adults, so parents must be educated about what steps to take to protect eyes beginning in childhood.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- THE DAMAGE IS CUMULATIVE. Experts say it is difficult to isolate the exact amount of damage that Ultraviolet Radiation (UV) imposes on the eye over a long period of time. However, a number of studies have shown that the effects of UV radiation are mostly cumulative and may increase the chance of developing eye problems later in life, including cataracts, a leading cause of reduced vision in the United States.
- AND IRREVERSIBLE. Short-term damage to the eyes may be hard to notice, but over the long-term, the sun can cause irreversible harm to all structures of the eye and surrounding tissue that are left unprotected or under-protected. These conditions may not manifest for years at which point the damage is already done and it is too late to reverse the effects of the sun. That’s why it is important to start protecting eyes from childhood.
- CHILDREN & TEENS ARE AT A GREATER RISK THAN ADULTS. Younger eyes are more susceptible to exposure to the sun’s harmful rays than adults. Children have larger pupils (allowing more light into their eyes), clearer lenses, and are outside without eye protection much more frequently and for longer periods than most adults. It is estimated that a significant amount of lifetime exposure to UV rays may occur by age 18 and that children’s annual dose of UV radiation is three times that of adults.
- ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS CAN INFLUENCE UV EXPOSURE. Although direct light from the sun itself can be damaging to eyes,reflected ultraviolet (UV) rays from surfaces such as grass, soil, dry sand, water, and snow can also be harmful. UV protection also is important on a cloudy day as the sun’s rays can pass through thin clouds, exposing your eyes to harmful UV radiation
- SOMETIMES SUNGLASSES ALONE AREN’T ENOUGH. While most sunglasses can help block UV rays from entering through the lenses, most frame styles do not prevent rays from reaching the eyes from the sides, top, and bottom of the glasses. Hats with brims offer no protection from UV rays reflected up from ground surfaces such as pavement, sand, and water.
- UV BLOCKING CONTACT LENSES EXIST. They can provide an important level of additional protection from UV exposure. Not all contact lenses offer UV protection, and, of those that do, not all provide similar absorption levels. ACUVUE® is the only major brand of contact lenses which blocks approximately 97%of UV-B and 81% of UV-A rays as standard across the entire range of its products.*
- IT’S ALL ABOUT DOING YOUR BEST TO ACHIEVE A COMPREHENSIVE MEASURE OF UV PROTECTION. UV absorbing contact lenses are not substitutes for devices like UV-blocking sunglasses as they do not completely cover the eye or the surrounding area. For more comprehensive UV protection, UV-blocking contact lenses should be worn as an added layer of protection in conjunction with high-quality UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.
- Visit “Fast Facts for Your Health: The Sun & Your Eyes: What You Need to Know” on the ACUVUE® Brand website for more information.
With summer around the corner, how does your family protect against the sun?
