Did you know that exposure to bright sunlight puts you at higher risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and growths on the eye including cancer?* This summer, when you’re putting on sunscreen before heading out the door, make sure you’re also wearing protective eye gear during UV [Ultraviolet] Awareness Month.

Even though July is UV Safety Awareness Month, eyes are at risk of damage from UV rays year-round. UV rays are emitted from sunlight and from tanning beds and have the ability to change skin cells, so wearing UV-blocking sunglasses or tanning goggles is essential. 

When outside, it’s especially important to protect eyes during the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. daylight savings time in North America. UV rays are particularly strongest during late spring and early summer and consist of ultraviolet A (UVA), ultraviolet B (UVB), and ultraviolet C (UVC).

The American Academy of Ophthalmology offers additional helpful tips for protecting vulnerable eyes:

How to Pick the Right Sunglasses

• Don’t focus on color or darkness of sunglass lenses but rather whether they block UV rays, which is typically known on the sticker on the sunglasses. Darker lenses don’t always mean better.
• Make sure the sticker says 100% UV protection and that they block 100% of UV-A rays and UV-B rays.
• Cost doesn’t always mean better protection. The ability to block UV light is not reflected by the price tag.
• The best sunglasses are ones that wrap around your head (around to your temples) so sunlight can’t enter from the side.

Other Helpful Tips:

• Wear your sunglasses even if you wear contact lenses with UV protection.
• Don’t take your sunglasses off even if it’s cloudy; rays can still pass through haze and thin clouds.
• Protect your eyes especially during the early afternoon and at higher altitudes, when UV light is most intense.
• Wear a broad-brimmed hat with your sunglasses for further protection.
• Never look directly at the sun as this can lead to solar retinopathy, which is damage to the eye’s retina from solar rays.
• Make sure children are also wearing sunglasses and hats to get a jumpstart on their good habits. This is especially important during 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

Remember we only get one set of eyes in a lifetime. Consider developing new habits during the month of July and beyond to protect your eyes during UV Safety Awareness Month.

*B, K. (n.d.). July is UV Safety Awareness Month. Eye and Health. Retrieved June 28, 2021, from https://www.eyeandhealth.com/blog/july-is-uv-safety-awareness-month

Any sources from outside of Prevent Blindness do not imply an endorsement from Prevent Blindness. The contents of the material used are the responsibility of the authoring organization, Responsum Health.