Millions of people are unaware that too much UV rays can get you blind.
In a study involving 2000 participants, 28% had no idea of the risks of UV rays from the winter sun. 3 in 10 people did not know that UV rays can still do damage even on a cloudy day.
Even under a shade, UV rays can still penetrate and damage your eyes.
Nearly only a quarter thinks that UV radiation damage is only manifested as sunburn.
No Precautionary Measures
Commissioned by the company ZEISS, the study aims to expose the views of the people related to protecting their eyes from UV radiation damage. This study emphasizes that despite the understanding that eyes are one of the most sensitive areas in our body, the majority of the people still do not take any precautions.
According to Dr. Laughton of ZEISS, we should prioritize protecting our eyes and the skin surrounding them. This should be our top priority whatever the weather because UV radiation is present whatever the weather is. We could be unaware that UV radiation poses significant risks on our eyes such as cataracts, permanent skin damage, photo ageing, and photokeratitis.
How to Protect Your Eyes From Uv Rays
Most of us believe that applying SPF on our face is already enough, not knowing that we tend to forget to apply on the skin around our eyes. The skin around our eyes is thinner than that of other areas which is why it requires more care. When applying moisturizer and SPF, never forget to include your eye area as well.
Here are other safety measures you should do:
- Choose quality lenses. Do not sacrifice on super cheap products especially when it comes to sunglasses. High-quality sunglasses provide adequate UV protection to reduce glare from protective surfaces.
- Choose the right frames. While most lenses of sunglasses can block UV rays, you should also consider the frame style which should have enough size to cover your whole eyes.
- Wear the right contact lenses. Choose contacts that protect your eyes against UV rays. There are 2 categories to choose from: Class I and Class II. Class I UV-blockers give the greatest protection against UV rays.
Consult with your doctor to find the best UV-blocking product options for you. Take note that even if wide-brimmed hats may protect you from direct sun, they do not protect you from UV rays that reflect up from objects like pavement, water, and sand so you should still consider UV-blocking shades.
