Eyeglasses perform many functions – correct your vision, help you to read comfortably and safely drive your car, allow you to change your image to be fashionable. You might have several pairs with different objectives.
But they all have one thing in common: they take care of your eyes, protecting them from ultraviolet radiation. Because when it comes to your eyes, a single pair will have to last a lifetime.
What are UV rays?
Ultraviolet rays are invisible forms of solar energy to cause cancer, skin burns and eye diseases. There are three types of ultraviolet rays:
* UV-A rays: they are mostly absorbed by the lens of the eye. Research indicates a relationship between exposure to ultraviolet and long-term presence of cataracts and damage to the retina, including macular degeneration associated with age. Although exposure to ultraviolet light results in a nice tan, also cause skin aging and wrinkles.
* UV-B rays, are responsible for sunburn and skin cancer, also cause photokeratitis, a painful burning in the eyes. About half of all UV-B radiation is also blocked by the atmosphere.
* UV-C: This is more harmful ultraviolet radiation, but is blocked by Earth’s atmosphere.
How are we exposed to ultraviolet light?
Everyone is exposed to UV rays but some are more exposed than others. If you spend long hours in the sun, whether practicing outdoors sports such as bicycling, golf, tennis, boating, are at greater risk to the harmful effects of UV rays. Also, if you work in any job that requires you to spend long hours in outdoor environments, you also need protection from UV rays. Other activities that we are exposed to high intensities of these rays are:
* Tanning Beds
* Working under fluorescent lights
* Taking certain prescription medications (tetracycline, birth control pills, tranquilizers) that increase sensitivity to UV radiation
In addition, the eyes of children are particularly susceptible because they often spend more time in the sun than adults and their eyes allow the infiltration of UV rays.
How UV rays affect my eyes?
In addition to causing skin cancer, UV rays can damage your eyes permanently. The cells in the eye, contrary to the skin cells do not have the ability to regenerate. So when you expose your eyes to UV rays, you risk developing cataracts, damage to your retina, photokeratitis, cancer of the eyelids and skin around your eyes and other painful conditions can leave you partially or completely blind the future.
The eye knows how to protect yourself when UV radiation is not too intense or does not last long. The cornea and crystalline lens together absorb all UV-B and 98% of UV-A under reasonable conditions. When the exposure is excessive may cause severe damage.
Some examples:
* Failure to wear sunglasses with UV protection on sunny days, can cause painful keratitis (inflammation of the cornea). Fortunately, this condition is temporary and easily treated.
* In the Caribbean, to protect against ultraviolet rays is very important because, given the country’s geographical location, the sun’s rays penetrate more intensely. Many times, people in semi-tropical countries and tropical are not well informed or does not exist precautionary information. In these cases, the damage caused by sunlight are final and irreversible.
Because exposure to UV light damages the eye and is cumulative over your life, you make sure you get lenses that offer full UV protection. The fact that a lens is dark, does not mean you have UV protection – on the contrary, it may mean a great risk to the user because the dark color causes the pupil to dilate, letting more light and UV radiation in the eye . That’s why 100 percent protection against UV rays is continually gaining importance in preventing macular degeneration or cataract development in the long term.
Eye protection
Although the atmosphere protects us from UV-C, we need protection from UV-B and UV-A. Photochromic lenses are a good choice because they absorb UV-B and UV-A, providing maximum protection. In fact, the UV-A radiation is what causes the photochromic material to change from clear to dark.
It is important to note that not all plastic photochromic lenses offer 100 percent UV protection. Ask your eye care professional if your lenses provide full protection. For there to take care of one pair of eyes that have in this life.