The summer season brings hot weather, beach balls, and that pair of sunglasses you just can’t live without, right? Wearing sunglasses during the summer heat isn’t just a fashion statement; more importantly, sunglasses serve as your number one protectant against the sun’s harmful Ultra Violet (UV) rays.

EndlessBeauty.com recently spoke with Jan Bergmanson, professor at the University Of Houston College Of Optometry and founding Director of the Texas Eye Research and Technology Center (TERTC) to find out more about the short term and long term effects of sunburned eyes caused by exposure to the sun’s harmful UV rays.

I can sunburn my eye?

We usually think of our skin when it comes to those dreaded and painful sunburns, but the eye
can also become sunburned. It’s standard practice to slap on sunscreen before going outside when the sun is out in full force, yet when it comes to protecting our eyes, we often neglect preventative measures. “When you are outside, no matter what the weather, sunny or cloudy, there is always an amount of UV radiation,” says Jan Bergmanson. There is no escaping Ultra Violet radiation, even if you are indoors. “You can get bombarded from UV radiation even when indoors from light sources, which is why we are not so interested in a onetime exposure or burn, but more interested in the entire lifetime exposure.”

What are the short term and long term effects?

The short term effects can include blurred vision, irritation, pain, redness, tearing and temporary vision loss (called photokeratitis, or “snowblindness”).

However, Bergmanson has been concentrating on getting the word out about the long term effects. The long term effects of sunburned eyes can include cataracts, molecular degeneration, and possibly the formation of skin cancer on the eyelid.

How can I protect my eyes?

“In general, the thinking has been that nothing is better than a pair of good sunglasses,” says Bergmanson, “but contact lenses serve as good a protection, if not better.” There are some ground rules to keep in mind when buying your pair of summer shades. Bergmanson shares his tips:

• Make sure to buy sunglasses that wrap around your face
  If there is space between your face and the glasses, then UV radiation can still get to the eye.
• Make sure your sunglasses come guaranteed with UV or UVR protection
  “The American National Standards Institute has two different standards for UVR protection,” says Bergmanson. A Class 1 UVR-blocking lens absorbs 99 percent of UVB and 95 percent of UVA rays, while a Class 2 lens filters out 95 percent of UVB and 70 percent of UVA rays. Any lens claiming to provide UVR protection must as least meet the Class 2 standard. “If you feel that you are unsure about the reliability of the sunglasses you have purchased, I recommend taking them to your eye care practitioner to get them professionally checked.”
• Bergmanson recommends trying a UV protecting contact lens
  “The contact lenses provide just as good, if not better, protection from harmful UV rays and are on the eye all the time, which makes it great for playing sports.”

You need to protect your eyes as much as your skin this summer. Remember, always wear UV or UVR protecting sunglasses when outside and see your eye care practitioner for frequent checkups to help prevent the development of long term ocular diseases.