Here’s How To Protect Your Eyes This Summer

Bright Eyes: When we think about sun protection, we usually focus more on our skin than our eyes. Our eyes are actually more sensitive than we may realize, and UV exposure has the potential to cause real damage beyond uncomfortable squinting. Here’s how — and why — to pick the best protection for your peepers.

How to Do It: Sunglasses make a fashion statement, but their actual purpose, of course, is to protect the eyes. Quality matters, and it’s worth spending more money on your sunnies. Choose sunglasses (and other eyewear or contacts) that absorb 100% of UV-A and UV-B rays. Darker lenses don’t necessarily mean better protection. Check labels for “UV400,” meaning they have UV coating and block 100% of both types of rays. Polycarbonate lenses naturally block rays. 

The Benefits: UV rays hit the eyes from multiple directions, reflecting off of pavement, buildings, water, sand, and other surfaces. UV-A rays can damage the macula at the back of the eye, while UV-B rays can damage the cornea and lens in the front. Wearing sunglasses regularly can prevent eye sunburn (photokeratitis), dry eyes, cataracts, macular degeneration, skin cancer, and pterygium — AKA “surfer’s eye,” which is a triangular growth across the white part of the eye.