Your eyes are an important part of your overall health and sunglasses are a great tool to prevent future damage. The most important benefit of wearing sunglasses is that they protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light. The UV light can have harmful effects on the eyelid, cornea, lens, and retina. No matter the weather or temperature your eyes are always subject to UV exposure. June 6th is national eyewear day and a great reminder to wear your sunglasses. Check out this list of four reasons why sunglasses are imperative to maintaining healthy eyes:

Prevent harmful sun damage:

The UV rays that come from the sun are even stronger in the summer, so while you may love being outside, you need to protect your eyes! Increased exposure to ultraviolet light exposure (UV) can result in:

• Skin cancer- the area around the eyes is incredibly sensitive and oftentimes neglected when choosing eyewear.  Nearly 10% of skin cancers are found near the eyes, so doctors recommend wearing sunglasses with large lenses to cover more of the contact area.
• Pterygium- a tissue growth over the white part of the surface of the eye that can alter the curve of the eyeball, causing astigmatism.
• Glaucoma and cataracts- both of these result in worsening vision.  Cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens that can blur vision. An estimated 20% of cases are caused by extended UV exposure.
•  The UV exposure that results in glaucoma may result in blindness.

May prevent migraines and headaches:

Extreme brightness can cause migraines and headaches. This can be easily subdued by wearing sunglasses!  They can also reduce eye fatigue and eye strain, so even if you don’t get migraines, eyewear protects you day to day.

Protection from debris:

Although you may not see it, there is dust all around you.  This can get in your eyes and scratch your corneas.  This is especially true on the beach where sand and wind can cause permanent damage, but wearing sunglasses can help shield your eyes from debris.  Snow is also a large offender; it reflects about 80% of the UV rays from the sun and can actually burn your corneas.

Safer driving:

In light rain during the daytime, wearing sunglasses may improve vision and reduce glares from the sun. They can also help during sunny days when the light is very bright making it harder to see the road!  Sunglasses not only protect your eyes, but they also keep you safe on the roads.

When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones that block out 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB radiation and offer polarization, which reduces glare. In addition to sunglasses, it is important to see your doctor of optometry every year for a comprehensive eye examination. This is a good way to monitor your eye health and maintain good vision.

You can find more tips on ways to stay healthy at health.gatech.edu