As the sun comes out, it’s really important that we protect our skin and our eyes from the sun so we don’t cause problems both in the short-term and long-term.
Everyone knows of the damage the sun can cause to our skin, with warnings about skin cancer and melanomas on the skin’s surface. The sun can cause permanent, irreparable damage to both our skin and our eyes.
In short, the sun expels harmful UV rays which can toy with the make up of our skin and affect cell growth and form. As a result, skin cancers can occur from too much exposure to the sun if we don’t protect it well.
Simple things like covering up exposed skin with clothing and always using sun lotion all over our body is really important, but have you ever thought about protecting your eyes from the suns’ harmful rays?
Tip 1: Don some shades
Always buy sunglasses that have over 97% UV protection levels and never buy fake goods: check that there is a disclaimer clearly stating the UV protection levels and don’t settle for anything less.
Tip 2: Keep out of midday sun
The sun is at its most damaging to our skin and eyes between the hours of 12 noon and 3pm. During this time, the number of rays emitted are at optimum level, so avoid being out in the sun during these times if you can.
Tip 3: Never look directly at the sun
Okay, so it sounds pretty obvious, but never look directly at the sun as it can cause problems to your cornea as the light radiation is so bright and can be extremely harmful. This is mimicked by when we’re in a bright situation; we tend to squint, highlighting that our eyes aren’t designed to withstand high levels or brightness!
It is worth noting that children need more UV protection than adults do as damage occurs over time, so if you’re exposed to the sun when young you may not know the damage it has done until you’re older. Children also spend longer periods of time outdoors, so make sure you always protect your children from the sun with lotion and covering up their skin.
For more advice, speak to your optician. For further eye health, eat a balanced diet and get your eyes tested every 2 years.
Amy blogs for Direct Sight, a leading online retailer of prescription glasses and sunglasses.
