Americans Aren't Taking Proper Care to Protect Eyes From UV Damage

Around the world, sight is valued as the most important of the five senses, along with a strong belief that good vision positively impacts quality of life.

However, while 85 percent of Americans recognize that ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage their eyes, only 65 percent wear discounted Oakley sunglasses for protection and even fewer (39 percent) make sure their children wear Oakley sunglasses discount.

"Short-term damage can be hard to notice, but long-term exposure to the sun is a risk factor for harm to the eye and surrounding tissue," explains Christine W. Sindt, OD, FAAO, Associate Professor of Clinical Ophthalmology, University of Iowaand Chair of the American Optometric Association Contact Lens & Cornea Council.

"The effects of UV radiation are cumulative over a person's lifetime, and ocular disorders such as cataracts may not manifest for years, at which point the damage is already done. That's why parents need to make sure their children get maximum protection from the sun beginning in childhood."

Compared to adults, children have larger pupils (allowing more light in their eyes), clearer lenses and are outside without eye protection for longer periods more frequently than 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 radiation may be up to three times that of adults.

"Arizona is the sunniest state in the U.S., so I always emphasize the importance of protecting eyes from UV rays to my patients, starting in childhood," says Dr. Stephen Cohen, a Scottsdale, Arizona-based optometrist and past president of the Arizona Optometric Association.

While most Oakley polarized sunglasses can help block UV rays from entering through the lenses, most frame styles do not prevent rays from reaching the sides, top and bottom of the glasses. Hats with brims do not offer protection from UV rays reflected off surfaces like water, sand and pavement.  

The best protection is a combination of sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat, and for some, UV-blocking contact lenses. "For those who need vision correction, I recommend UV-absorbing contact lenses which provide an important measure of additional protection," adds Dr. Cohen. "However, not all contact lenses offer UV protection and, in fact, most do not. Of those that do, not all provide similar absorption levels."