Summer may be coming to Olympia, but what do you really know about protecting your eyes from ultraviolet rays? According to the American Optometric Association, only 47% of Americans value UV protection as the most important factor when buying sunglasses – and less than one third think that sunglasses and sunscreen should always go hand in hand.
To reduce the risk of long term UV radiation damage and disease, protect your eyes from the sun whether it’s cloudy or sunny, winter or summer. Premature aging of the eyes is a major concern with UV damage, including cancer, cataracts, macular degeneration, or retina damage.
If you’re a parent, make sure to protect your child’s eyes from the sun. Children are very susceptible to UV damage because the lenses in their eyes filter out less UV rays than adult lenses and more radiation can reach the retina.
Our recommendation? Wear sunglasses every time you wear sunscreen!
To keep up to date on your annual eye exams or to get answers to your questions about eye care, contact our Olympia eye clinic and make an appointment with our friendly optometrist, Dr. Douglas Jeske.