Welcome to July- national UV safety awareness month! Being the middle of summer, it is the perfect time for a reminder of the damage that the sun can do.
The effects of UV radiation from the sun has some pretty negative effects on our bodies and eyes. Want to avoid the early development of cataracts? UV safety is important! Keep reading for 4 tips on how to protect your eyes this month and every month!
Limit Your Time Outside
The best way to avoid a problem is to avoid its source. Being out of direct contact with the sun for long periods of time will keep your eyes safe from the worst. But nobody wants to stay inside all summer.
You can still have fun during the summer without spending every second of it outside. Be mindful of how long you’ve been at the beach and pack an umbrella to give yourself some shade.
Sunglasses
Of course, we can’t discuss protecting your eyes from the sun without bringing up sunglasses. Both practical and stylish, sunglasses can do as much for your outfit as they can for your eyes. Be warned, though, not all sunglasses are the same.
When you buy your sunglasses, it is important that you check to make sure that they are 100% UV protected. It should be clearly marked on a removable sticker, usually on the lens itself.
You’re worse off wearing sunglasses that don’t have UV protection than no sunglasses. You need to wear sunglasses that protect for UV rays.
Without UV protection, your sunglasses can cause your pupils to dilate when you wear them. This translates to your pupils letting in more light to compensate for the dark tint.
This is bad news for your eyes because you’re letting in more UV rays this way. Here’s the good news: it’s easy to find UV protected sunglasses!
Wear a Wide-Brimmed Hat
Sunglasses do an amazing job of keeping your eyes protected. Want to make sure you’re not letting any extra UV rays in your eyes? Wear a wide-brimmed hat as well.
Yes, you should wear a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of UV protected shades at the same time. It’s all about extra protection people!
There are plenty of hat styles to choose from, so make sure to have fun with it! As long as your hat can provide shade for your eyes, nothing is off the table when it comes to protecting your vision!
Schedule Regular Eye Exams
Having regular eye appointments is important when it comes to maintaining healthy vision. This is true no matter what time of year it may be.
Eye exams are your line of defense against eye conditions. If there is something wrong with your eyes, early detection is key! Treatment is much more effective when it comes early on!
Can’t remember when your last eye exam was? Schedule an exam at Takle Eye Group in Griffin, GA now!
