Protecting Your Eyes from the Sun
Your eyes, like your skin, are sensitive to the sun’s rays. You must therefore protect them properly and take care of them when you’re out of doors. If there is prolonged, unprotected exposure to the sun, ultraviolet rays can damage the eye tissues (cornea, crystalline lens and retina).
To get the most out of a sunny day, your sunglasses are indispensable! Children’s eyes are particularly sensitive to the sun; even when it’s cloudy, sunglasses should be worn because UV rays pass through clouds.
But be careful: Don’t wear just any sunglasses. They have to be able to protect you from UV rays and cover your entire field of view. They must therefore meet certain standards and adapt to the morphology of your face.
Here are some helpful hints for worry-free fun in the sun:
- On the beach : Sand and sea respectively reflect 20 and 10 percent of the sun’s rays.
- Eyes to the sky : Be careful to never look directly into the sun. Protecting your eyes is vital: You could be avoiding an irreversible ocular injury.
- In the mountains: Snow reflects 85 percent of UV rays. Don’t forget to wear your glasses, even when it’s cloudy.
- In situations of overexposure (skiing, water sports, etc.): Wearing polarized sunglasses diminishes the sun’s glare, which is often irritating and even dangerous.
