14 News, The Tri-State's News and Weather Leader-Doctors offer advice on limiting eyes' exposure to sun

Doctors offer advice on limiting eyes' exposure to sun

Posted by Rich Miller - email

IOWA CITY, IA (WFIE) - While 85 percent of Americans recognize that ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage their eyes, only 65 percent wear sunglasses as protection, and even fewer (39 percent) make sure their children wear sunglasses.

"These gaps in vision care attitudes and behavior are of great concern, particularly when it comes to children," says Christine W. Sindt, OD, FAAO, associate professor of clinical ophthalmology, University of Iowa.

It is estimated that 80 percent of lifetime exposure to UV occurs by age 18 and that children's annual dose of UV radiation is three times that of adults.

While most sunglasses can help block UV rays from entering through the lenses, most frame styles do not prevent rays from reaching the sides, top and bottom of the glasses. Hats with brims offer no protection from UV rays reflected up from surfaces such as pavement, sand and water.

"For those who need vision correction, a significant measure of UV protection can be achieved with a combination of UV-absorbing sunglasses, a wide-brimmed hat and UV-blocking contact lenses," adds Dr. Stephen Cohen, a Scottsdale, Arizona−based optometrist.

"Not all contact lenses offer UV protection, and of those that do, not all provide similar absorption levels," explains Dr. Cohen. Among contact lens brands, 1•Day Acuvue Moist Brand Contact Lenses offer up to 82 percent UVA and 97 percent UVB protection, the highest levels available in a one-day contact lens at this time. On average, contact lenses without UV-blocking capability allow 90 percent of UVA radiation and 70 percent of UVB radiation to pass through the lenses to your eyes.

For those who favor reusable lenses, only Acuvue Advance Brand Contact Lenses and Acuvue Oasys Brand Contact Lenses carry the Seal of Acceptance for Ultraviolet Absorbing Contact Lenses from both the American Optometric Association and World Council of Optometry's Global Commission on Ophthalmic Standards. These lenses are the only ones to offer the highest level of UV blocking available, blocking more than 90 percent of UVA rays and 99 percent of UVB rays that reach the lens at this time.

"Although UV-blocking contact lenses provide important added protection for wearers, they should always be worn in conjunction with high-quality UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat," says Dr. Cohen.

For more information on the risks associated with UV exposure to the eyes and steps you can take to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays, visit www.healthywomen.org/sunandyoureyes to download the free resource, Fast Facts for Your Health: The Sun and Your Eyes.

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