Nowadays there is an awareness day for most everything, and sun damage awareness is no exception. June 27 is National Sunglasses Day, the annual holiday brought to life by The Vision Council that celebrates the importance of wearing ultraviolet (UV)-protective sun wear and eyewear. The Vision Council encourages everyone to always wear UV sunglasses when outdoors to protect their eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays.
“Sunglasses are as much a health necessity as they are a fashion accessory,” said Dr. Justin Bazan, OD, medical advisor to The Vision Council. “While it’s important to wear sunglasses year-round, regardless of the season or weather, it’s especially important to wear your shades during the summer when we are spending more time outside at the beach, at the park, boating, and enjoying other outdoor activities. In fact, depending on what kind of activities you like to do, there may be specific types of lenses or frames that would enhance your enjoyment of that sport or activity. Your eyecare provider can help you select the best sun wear options for you.”
How UV Can Damage your Eyes
Some important facts to know about the impact of UV rays on the eyes include:
- UVA and UVB rays can reflect off surfaces like water, sand, snow, and even buildings. These reflected UV rays increase exposure levels and can double the risk of UV damage to the eyes.
- If the sun is strong enough, reflective rays can burn the cornea – a condition called photokeratitis.
- Long-term exposure to the sun is a risk factor for cataracts, a clouding of the eye’s lens, and the development of pterygia, a thin, noncancerous growth of tissue that surfaces on the conjunctiva and cornea.
- UV radiation can cause different forms of cancer both in the eye and the delicate skin surrounding the eye.
- Since UV exposure is cumulative, it is important to begin protection at an early age. Over a lifetime, damage from unprotected exposure to UV rays can lead to eye diseases and conditions.
- Children, especially, need UV eye protection as they get more annual sun exposure than adults through outdoor activities, and their eyes cannot filter UV light as effectively as adults’ ocular lenses.
Who is Most Likely to Wear Sunglasses?
The Vision Council is also sharing recent data about consumer sunglass-wearing habits. Some key takeaways from the survey include:
- Two-thirds of respondents (67%) report that they wear sunglasses always, most, or some of the time when spending time outside. Additionally, these respondents are significantly more likely to wear sunglasses during the summer compared to other months.
- A majority of parents (70%) say their children wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun when spending time outside.
- The survey found that awareness of sunglasses’ health benefits increases adults’ likelihood to wear them and makes parents say they would encourage their children to use them as well.
The survey also showed some differences among specific demographics who wear sunglasses regularly, including:
- 50% of Gen Z wear sunglasses always, most or some of the time outside, compared to 71% of Millennials, 72% of Gen X, and 68% of Baby Boomers.
- Adults in the Northeast (63%) are less likely than those in the Midwest (70%), South (68%), or West (69%) to wear sunglasses when spending time outside.
Any amount of protection is better than no protection from UV rays. If you already have prescription glasses with a UV coating, then you are set. That UV coating provides just as much protection as UV sunglasses. However, for those who don’t have prescription glasses or UV sunglasses, finding a pair can be tricky.
But Dr. Bazen states, “No matter your budget or style there’s a pair of sunglasses that fits every lifestyle. From value-priced to luxury frames and simple to complex specialty lenses, consumers can find the best eyewear option for them and their families. With more ways than ever to buy, including online and in-person, the right sunglasses are more accessible than ever.” So, please take the time to find a pair of UV sunglasses that work for you, as your eyes will definitely thank you in the long run.
To view the survey summary, click here.
For more information about the National Sunglasses Day campaign, visit nationalsunglassesday.com.
For more information, tips and resources on overall eye health, visit visionoptions.thevisioncouncil.org. Use the convenient doctor locator to find an eye doctor in your area.
