You can protect your eyes from UV rays in two important ways:

1. Know the Dangers of UV Rays .
   
2. Wear proper eye protection and hats that block UV rays.

UV rays can come from many directions. They radiate directly from the sun, but they are also reflected from the ground, from water, snow, sand and other bright surfaces.

Use eyewear that absorbs UV rays and wear a brimmed hat or cap. A wide brimmed hat or cap will block about half of UV rays. A brimmed hat or cap can also limit UV rays that hit the eyes from above or around glasses.

Eyewear that absorbs UV rays gives you the most protection. All types of eyewear, including prescription and non-prescription glasses, contact lenses and lens implants, should absorb UV-A and UV-B rays. For UV protection in everyday eyewear, there are several options like UV-blocking lens materials, coatings and photochromic lenses. UV protection does not cost a lot of money and does not get in the way of seeing clearly.

Choosing Sunglasses

Sunglasses help you in two important ways. They filter light and they protect your eyes from damaging UV rays. Mounting evidence shows that exposure to UV rays can damage your eyes. Long-term exposure to UV rays can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration or skin cancer around the eyelids. Sunglasses should be worn when you are outdoors so you can protect your eyes.

You should choose sunglasses that:

• reduce glare
   
• filter out 99-100% of UV rays
  
• protect your eyes
  
• are comfortable to wear
  
• do not distort colors.

Be aware that if you are at the beach or on the ski slopes, you should wear sunglasses with a darker tint to block more light. Your risk of eye damage from the sun is greater because of reflection off the water and snow.

Sunglasses makers do not always attach a tag or label stating the amount of UV radiation that sunglasses block. Only buy sunglasses that provide a clear statement about how much UV radiation is blocked.

Read the labels! Always read labels carefully and look for labels that clearly state the sunglasses block 99 to 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays.

Do children need sunglasses?

Yes. Children are at special risk from the harmful effects of UV rays, since their eyes do not have the same ability as adults to protect from UV radiation.

Here are some helpful suggestions for choosing sunglasses for children:

• Check to make sure the sunglasses fit well and are not damaged,
  
• Choose sunglasses that fit your child's lifestyle.
  The lenses should be impact resistant and should not pop out of the frames.
    Choose lenses that are large enough to shield the eyes from most angles.
  
• Find a wide-brimmed hat for your child to wear along with the sunglasses.
  This will give your child extra protection against the sun.
  Wearing a hat can cut the amount of UV rays that reach the eyes in half.

The same as adults, children should wear brimmed caps and sunglasses that screen out 99 to 100% of UV rays.

This article and more eyecare information can be found at UV Learning Center

The Dangers of UV Rays:
There are two types of UV rays:

UV-A can hurt your central vision. It can damage the macula, a part of the retina at the back of your eye.

UV-B The front part of your eye (the cornea and the lens) absorbs most UV-B rays, but these rays may cause even more damage to your eyes than UV-A rays.

What eye problems can UV rays cause?

Over time, the effects of UV rays may cause a number of eye problems.

• Macular Degeneration:
  UV rays may lead to macular degeneration, a leading cause of vision loss for older Americans.
• Cataract:
  UV rays, especially UV-B rays, may also cause some kinds of cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, the part of the eye that focuses the light we see.
• Pterygium:
  This is a growth that begins on the white of the eye and may involve the cornea. Eventually, the growth may block vision. It is more common in people who work outside in the sun and wind.
• Skin Cancer:
  Skin cancer around the eyelids is also linked to prolonged UV exposure.
• Corneal Sunburn:
  Also called photokeratitis, is the result of high short-term exposure to UV-B rays.
  Long hours at the beach or skiing without proper eye protection can cause this problem.
  It can be very painful and may cause temporary vision loss.
  
  This article and more eyecare information can be found at UV Learning Center