Without realizing it, the sun could be damaging your eyes or your skin. Take the necessary precautions to prevent UV radiation complications.
Being exposed to too much UV radiation has been shown to cause a variety of visual impairments. The American Optometric Association (www.aoa.org) informs, “The sun’s UV radiation can cause cataracts; benign growths on the eye’s surface; cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes; and photokeratitis, sometimes called snow blindness, which is a temporary but painful sunburn of the eye’s surface.” They recommend practical over fashionable sunglasses. For more information on what to look for while shopping for sunglasses search the AOA website. Many people realize that their skin needs protection from the sun, but they neglect to protect their eyes. Putting sunglasses on can save your eyes from overexposure to the sun.
Name five items you would never forget to bring to the beach . . . go! Ok, I imagine that a towel and a beach ball were at the top of your list, and I hope sunscreen was too. In the hot summer months it’s easy to remember your sunscreen. What many people don’t realize is that it’s just as important in these late spring/early summer months to apply sunscreen before spending time outdoors. Where there is sun, there is UV radiation and it’s important to protect your skin against the harmful effects of over-exposure. Minimal sunburn is usually just a nuisance and disappears in a couple of days, but it’s also an indication that you should have applied more sunscreen. The Skin Cancer Foundation warns that, “One in five Americans will develop skin cancer in the course of a lifetime.” Take preventative steps to deter becoming one in five. The Skin Cancer Foundation recommends applying a sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher 30 minutes before going outdoors and to continue applying sunscreen every two hours of sun exposure. For more skin cancer prevention tips visit www.skincancer.org.
Don’t let the sun fool you. Wear your sunglasses and sunscreen whenever you spend time outdoors!
Posted By National Wellness Institute, Saturday, May 01, 2010
Updated: Friday, December 28, 2012
