Kids are not being protected from UV radiation
According to a new report issued by The Vision Council in May 2012, this is not happening when it comes to keeping eyes healthy by protecting them from harmful UV radiation. The report shows that while 73% of adults do wear sunglasses, only 58% of them make their children wear sunglasses.
UV exposure over time causes eye disease and vision loss
The report suggests that too many people still do not understand the serious damage that UV exposure can have on your eyes. Even fewer realize that it is cumulative exposure over time – which happens on both sunny and cloudy days – that leads to vision threatening diseases. One such disease, macular degeneration, leads to permanent vision loss and their is no cure.
The solution is to wear sunglasses and regular eye glasses with proper UV protection. Kids need this more than adults because the lens of a child’s eye is not as good as blocking UV rays as the lens of an adult eye.
What cataracts and macular degeneration look like
Wearing sunglasses is a serious preventative health measure. Here is what macular degeneration can do to your vision:
UV damage also causes cataracts. Here is what cataracts can do to your vision:
UV damage also causes cataracts. Here is what cataracts can do to your vision:
The right lens technology makes the difference
It is also important to realize that not all lenses are the same at blocking UV rays. Even lenses that claim 100% UV protection actually don't deliver on that promise. However, newer lens technologies are tackling that problem and provide much better UV protection. To learn more read our previous post on new UV lens technologies.
