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It's All In The
Shades....
By
Joan Wright |
 Norwell
- Sunglasses are definitely a fashionable accessory
during the summer months, but more importantly, they are a
healthy one. While we are all aware of the harm the sun can
cause our skin, perhaps less well known is the harm the sun
can cause our eyes. Extended exposure to the sun’s UV rays
can lead to eye problems such as cataracts, macular
degeneration and photokeratitis (inflammation of the
cornea). More recent research has also unveiled the “blue
light” aspect of the sun – known as high-energy visible
radiation (HEV) – which may increase long-term risk of
macular degeneration.
We’ve all suffered from the flash bulb effect – the stars we
see for a few seconds after someone pokes a camera with
flash in our face. But imagine that effect lasting for hours
or more! Yet, leaving our eyes open blind to the sun and its
glare puts us at risk for just that. UVA rays can pass right
through the cornea and cause damage to the lens and retina.
Overexposure to UVA rays can cause various types of
cataracts.
Likewise, overexposure to UVB rays can cause painful growths
on the eyes, called pingueculae and pterygia, which can lead
to distorted vision and corneal issues. High short-term
doses of UVB rays can cause photokeratitis, also known as
“snow blindness,” which can trigger temporary blindness for
24 to 48 hours. While this happens more often at higher
altitudes, it can occur anywhere there is snow if the eyes
are unprotected. And snow can double exposure to harmful
rays since it reflects 80% of UV rays.
So, sunglasses aren’t just for summer; they should be worn
year round to protect the eyes. And while fashion does
usually dictate our choices, sunglasses should be a
close-fitting and wrap-around style to avoid periphery
exposure. Look for sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays and
absorb most HEV rays. Speak with your eye doctor or read the
labels carefully to determine UV protection. Unfortunately,
the color or darkness of sunglasses is unrelated to the
amount of UV protection the glasses provide so it’s
important to see the label’s promise of UV protection.
However, color does make a difference for HEV protection and
the best colors are bronze, copper or reddish brown.
Don’t be fooled by clouds or the shade. Light is still
reflected on the ground, buildings, and your surroundings so
even when you’re in the shade, remember to wear your shades!
Cataracts and Eye Diseases
While some mistakenly believe that cataracts are
a “film” or growth on the eye, a cataract is actually a
clouding of the eye lens. The lens focuses light or images
on the retina, which is light-sensitive tissue in the back
of the eye. When light reaches the retina, it changes to
nerve signals that are sent to the brain. So if the lens in
not clear, the images it sends to the retina will be blurry.
It’s important to note that cataracts cannot develop from
overuse of the eyes and while you can have them in one or
both eyes, they cannot spread from eye to eye. However,
smoking and diabetes are two more risk factors for
cataracts, in addition to unprotected exposure to the sun.
The most common symptoms of cataracts include cloudy vision,
colors appearing dull, glare and halo effect around lights,
poor night vision, double vision and frequent changes in
eyeglass or contact prescriptions. If you have such
symptoms, see your eye care practitioner right away.
Everyone should get regular eye exams and people over age 60
should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam every two
years. For light-eyed (blue or green) people, annual
(yearly) dilation of the eyes might be recommended to screen
for a rarer eye disease known as malignant melanoma of the
eye. This affects about six people per million,
predominately at middle age, and typically in fair- skinned,
blue or green-eyed individuals. While the cause is unknown,
long time exposure to the sun is a debatable factor.
Symptoms may not occur or might include flashing lights,
dark spot on the iris, or change in shape of the pupil.
Sudden changes in vision should prompt an immediate visit to
the eye doctor. And in the meantime, wearing sunglasses is
an easy way to protect one’s eyes.
For more information on eye health and cataracts, see:
www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_ facts.asp
www.allaboutvision.com
www.malignantmelanomainfo.com |
About The Author
Joan Wright,
CMC, a certified geriatric care manager, is a member of
Norwell VNA and Hospice’s Alzheimer’s Care Specialty Team
and geriatric care management team. She co-facilitates NVNA
and Hospice’s support groups for caregivers of early, mid
and late stage Alzheimer’s. For more information on NVNA and
Hospice and all of its programs, you may call (781)659-2342
or visit the agency’s web site at www.nvna.org.
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