Marc Michelson, M.D. of Alabama Eye & Cataract Center in Birmingham commented on the need and consideration for UV eye protection. “Protecting your eyes from UV should be an important part of your daily routine in order to maintain your eye health and vision. A number of scientific studies indicate that spending long hours in the sun without eye protection can damage your eyes by contributing to cataracts and growths on the eye, including certain skin cancers,” commented Dr. Michelson. “Based on these studies at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center we recommend that you wear 99 percent and higher UV (ultraviolet radiation)-absorbent sunglasses and a brimmed hat whenever you're in the sun for long periods of time. The Birmingham sun this time of year is not to be taken lightly.”
Proper sunglasses are critical to protecting your eyes from sun-related damage, and they should be worn anytime you are outdoors, particularly during the summer when the level of ultraviolet radiation (UVA and UVB) is at least three time higher than during the winter, when you are at the beach or in the water, when you are participating in winter sports, especially at high altitudes where the UV is particularly strong and if you use medications that can cause sensitivity to light.
The best sunglasses offer 100 percent UV absorption, are of the best optical quality and are impact resistant. If you wear contact lenses, they may not protect your eyes from UV light. There are contact lenses available with UV protection. If you do not have contact lenses that absorb UV light, you need to protect your eyes with sunglasses.
“But keep in mind that sunglasses cannot protect your eyes from certain intense light sources such as arc welding, tanning beds/lights or gazing directly at the sun, especially during a solar eclipse. These intense lights can severely damage your eyes. Looking at any of these light sources without adequate protection can cause a painful corneal condition called photokeratitis or even damage to the retina, causing a permanent loss of central vision,” further noted Dr. Michelson.
The eye doctors and staff at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are happy to recommend the appropriate measures to take to protect your eyes in special situations. If you have questions or need an appointment to learn more about protecting your eyes from UV please call Alabama Eye & Cataract Center at 205-930-0930, visit Alabama Eye & Cataract Center or facebook.com/michelsonlaservision.
Alabama Eye & Cataract Center are leading eye care centers in Birmingham staffed by a team of specialists including eye doctors who are fellowship trained cornea specialists and cataract and lens implant specialists-all board certified Ophthalmologists-as well as Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser eye surgery such as LASIK eye surgery for laser vision correction, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma.
Bladeless All Laser LASIK at Michelson Laser Vision, Birmingham - Laser Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants at Alabama Eye & Cataract Center, Birmingham.
