Protecting your eyes from the sun

The UV rays from the sun cannot only damage your skin but your eyes too. It is not easy to tell when the sun may be damaging your eyes. Staring at the sun is never a good thing, but if your eyes hurt even when not looking directly at the sun this could be a sign of a problem.

Ultraviolet Keratitis

Ultraviolet keratitis is a temporary condition caused by over exposure to the sun. It can last up to 48 hours. Symptoms include:

• Blurry vision
• Eyelid twitching
• Watering eyes
• Redness in the eyes
• Short-term loss of vision
• Light sensitivity

If the symptoms last more than a few hours get in touch with us to make sure your eyes are OK.

Avoidance Is Key

It is fairly easy to prevent UV damage to the eyes by wearing a good pair of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat. Reduce your exposure to the sun where possible especially at the hottest part of the day. Sunglasses are not all rated the same ensure yours have good protection against UV rays.

Polarized lenses.

These specially coated lenses cuts out horizontal glare reflected from surfaces such as water, sand and snow. Because polarised lenses cut reflected glare, they are perfect for skiing, boating and the beach.

Prescription sunglasses.

Some styles of sunglasses can be fitted with lenses of your prescription.