Specifically, the cornea and lens are the ones affected by long-term exposure to UV exposure. The following eye conditions may result from spending long hours under the sun without sufficient protection:

• Cataract - clouding of the lens resulting to blurred vision
• Pterygium - a non-cancerous lesion which could appear over the cornea, possibly blocking vision
• Snow blindness - occurs after spending a day at the beach or after spending time in areas where UV rays could reflect off of pavements, snow and other surfaces, burning the eye’s front surface
• Skin cancer around the eyelids - Lesions could appear around the eyelids, commonly in the lower lids

Protect Your Eyes From Further Damage

Sunglasses are your best bet against eye damage brought about by ultraviolet radiation. Advisable sunglasses features, as quoted from this source, should be “large eye size with side protection, less than 1% UV-B transmittance, less than 1% UV-A transmittance, gray or near-neutral colored lenses, good optical quality, and visible transmittance selected for visual comfort”.

If you’re living near Las Cruces, Alamogordo, Deming, Ruidoso, and nearby areas, visit us at the Fillmore Eye Clinic so we can help you figure out the best sunglasses for you. Call us at 1-800-323-4764. You can also fill out this contact form for personal consultations. We look forward to your visit!