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WHAT'S NEW
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Sunglasses that protect your eyes
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Good sunglasses are much more than a must-have summer accessory; they're de rigueur for eye health.
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By Vickie Reichardt
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As you're slapping on a hat and slathering on the sunscreen this summer, keep in mind that your eyes are also susceptible to damage from the sun's harmful rays. Limiting your exposure and wearing sunglasses can help prevent sun-related ailments.
Risky rays
The sun emits three kinds of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. While UVC rays are absorbed by the ozone layer and never reach Earth, the longer-wavelength UVA and UVB rays do, and it's those rays that can damage your eyes.
As optometrist Christopher Nicol explains, "UVA radiation causes damage to the retina, and UVB radiation is absorbed by the cornea and lens." Short- and long-term exposure to UV rays can result in a number of potential ocular problems.
"The most common short-term condition that may be attributed to UV light is photokeratitis, a ‘sunburn' to the cornea," says Derek MacDonald, president of the Ontario Association of Optometrists. Long-term conditions can include the following:
- Macular degeneration, irreversible damage to the part of the retina that allows the eye to focus, occurs naturally with aging but can be accelerated by prolonged exposure to UV radiation. It causes the loss of central (but not peripheral) vision and can result in blurred vision or blind spots.
- Pingueculae and pterygia are noncancerous lesions that form on or around the connective tissue of the eyeball. They appear on the white of your eye and usually grow inward toward the cornea. These lesions can eventually cause obstructed vision in some.
- Cataracts - the "clouding" of the eye's normally clear lens - block light from reaching the retina and cause blurred or dimmed vision. Cataracts can worsen with time, further impairing vision, and must be removed surgically.
- Cancer can develop on the skin around the eyes, where you don't wear sunscreen.
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