Today is National Sunglasses Day!
Every day—whether it’s sunny or cloudy, summer or winter—millions of Americans make the conscious decision not to wear sunglasses or other UV-protective eyewear. While seemingly harmless, this habit carries several serious vision risks, many of which are not known or understood by those who fail to wear protective eyewear.
The problem originates with the sun’s unfiltered ultraviolet (UV) rays. Just as these rays can burn and damage skin cells, they can also harm unprotected eyes. A full day outside without protection can cause immediate, temporary issues such as swollen or red eyes and hypersensitivity to light. Years of cumulative exposure can cause cancer of the eye or eyelid and accelerate cataracts, which affect nearly 22 million Americans age 40 and older.
The solution to such problems is the constant and consistent use of sunglasses or other UV-protective eyewear when outdoors. Unfortunately, the majority of Americans don’t heed this important recommendation.
The Vision Council’s 2014 Sun Protection Survey found that 27 percent of adults rarely or never wear sunglasses when outside. An equal percentage report that they always wear sunglasses outdoors. In the middle are 46 percent who said they wear sunglasses only when it’s sunny out—thus exposing their eyes to strong UV rays on cloudy or partially cloudy days. In 2013, The Vision Council also found that less than half of parents (48%) enforce sunglass use among their children, which exposes young eyes to damaging UV rays.
Among those who were wearing sunglasses during the 2014 survey, 35 percent did not know if their shades provided UV protection. Nearly ten percent said that their glasses did not filter out UV rays. When it comes to taking care of eyewear, Americans again are found lacking. Only 27 percent of survey respondents who wear sunglasses store them in a case; the rest throw them loosely into handbags or on car consoles or counter tops. The resulting scratches and scrapes can obstruct UV protection and warp lenses and frames.
The bottom line is that adults aren’t doing enough to protect their eyes from UV damage, and as parents, they aren’t providing their children with the knowledge and eyewear needed to prevent their own long-term vision impairment.
The Vision Council, working in tandem with medical advisors and lens experts, developed this report to highlight the consequences of UV rays and provide recommendations and guidelines for purchasing using sunglasses for people of all ages.
I recently had the opportunity to see an educational webinar about UV Safety for Young Eyes hosted by Dr. Dora Adamopoulos, a medical adviser to The Vision Council. I did find it interesting to learn that Children receive 3X the annual adult does of UV radiation & their eyes are more vulnerable to the UV.
Please take a look at the following below:
The guide has so many helpful tips and great advice! I actually learned a lot from reading it.
Self Disclosure: I received a Sun Safe Swag bag which included sunglasses for free to facilitate this feature but also feel that this topic is of great importance. Thank you to The Vision Council for the information. Thank you to Baby Banz and Converse (Jack Purcell) for the sunglasses! Credit: The Vision Council.
Speak Your Mind