There may be some logic in your assumption that early morning and late afternoons are when your eyes are safest from the sun, but optometrists have to disagree.

Spokesperson for Optometry Australia, Luke Arundel, told Coach that while it is important to wear sunnies whenever you’re out in the sun, the low angle of the sun on the horizon is when the sun is most damaging on your eyes:

It’s actually the shoulder periods of the day, when the sun is lower on the horizon, that we’re actually getting more ocular UV radiation.

When the sun is directly above us, the brow knocks a lot of those UV rays, but when it’s lower on the horizon we are getting UV radiation directly inside the eye.

The sun is lower on the horizon in winter. We still can get up to 90 percent of UV radiation on days when it’s cloudy so sunglasses should be worn all day year round.

You see, if you don’t protect your eyes there are a few medical conditions that can occur:

Photokeratitis:

This is basically sunburn to the cornea (the thin, transparent layer that forms the front of the eye) – you’ll feel severe pain six to 12 hours after being in the sun.

“You’ll get a burning, stinging, painful sensation and blazing red eyes,” Arundel says. “Essentially it burns the top layer of cells off the cornea, which is the clear window at the front of the eye.”

While it won’t lead to long-term damage, you have to take painkillers or use antibiotic eye ointments to help the cornea cells regenerate.

Pterygium (or surfer’s eye):

These are fleshy growths on the front surface of the eye that cause irritation and discomfort – and are common to surfers and fishermen.

“When they progress they affect vision because they’re growing over the clear window that we look through,” Arundel says.

It can be treated by using eye drops to improve eye lubrication, or an eye surgeon can remove it before it crosses the cornea and causes permanent vision problems.

Macular degeneration:

The macular, which sits at the back of the eye, is responsible for central vision and is thought to be linked to exposure to bright sunlight. Macular degeneration results in severe vision impairment.

“There are some forms of macular degeneration that can be treated by injections into the eye, which is a fairly unpopular way of having treatment, and there are other types of macular degeneration which are not treatable,” Arundel says. “So it’s all about trying to nip it in the bud and trying to stop this becoming a problem.”

Eyelid cancer:

“The Cancer Council tells us that some 300 people a year are getting eyelid cancer,” Arundel says. “In many cases there is no treatment and the eye has to be removed.”

Cataracts:

Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye goes cloudy, causing blurred vision and eventual blindness. While cataracts are linked with ageing, up to 20 percent of cataract cases are caused or made worse by UV exposure.

So if you’re looking for a new set of specs to safeguard your eyes from the effects of the sun, you should pop over to Sunglass Hut and find the perfect pair.

After all, they offer all sorts, especially “a close-fitting, wrap-around style, or for a fashion style that has a thicker arm – that can also help prevent that radiation from leaking in around the side”, which Arundel describes as the ideal type…

So between looking after your eyes and looking on point, that’s why sunglasses should be a part of your daily routine.

[source:coach.nine]