Whether skiing, snowboarding, mountain climbing, shoveling snow, or just strolling outside this winter, it’s important to protect your eyes from the sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Exposure to UV rays during winter can temporarily harm the eyes as well as increase the risk of developing sunlight-related eye disorders, including cataracts – a leading cause of reduced vision.
During winter, snow reflection may double your overall exposure to ultraviolet radiation. According to the World Health Organization, fresh snow may reflect as much as 80 percent of UV rays, compared to other surfaces such as grass, soil and water, which reflect less than 10 percent of UV radiation; dry beach sand (about 15 percent); and sea foam (about 25 percent).
“The greatest measure of UV protection can be achieved with a combination of UV-absorbing sunglasses, UV-blocking contact lenses and a wide-brimmed hat,” advises Brian Linde, OD, a Montana-based optometrist and past president of the Montana Optometric Association. Sunglasses alone are not enough.
“While sunglasses with UV-blocking lenses can help shield eyes from UV rays in sunlight, they only block about 50 percent of UV radiation, because sunlight also enters the eye from above, below, and around the sunglasses,” explains Dr. Linde. “UV-blocking contact lenses provide added protection by effectively blocking sunlight that may enter the cornea from the top, bottom, or sides of the glasses.”
Not all contact lenses offer UV protection, nor should contacts alone be used for UV protection. Talk with your eye care professional about the type of contacts you are using. |
