Do I need to purchase sunglasses with UV protection after my LASIK procedure and why is that important?

by | May 12, 2014 | Blogs | 0 comments

Protecting your eyes is from too much sun exposure and harmful UV rays is just as important as protecting your skin with sunscreen in the warm weather months. Tinted, polarized lenses that have UV protection are imperative for protecting your eyes against harmful UV rays.

The accumulative effects of UV rays over time can compromise your eye health.This article by the American Optometric association explains why protecting  your eye from sun exposure is important for your eye health:

“Most are aware of the harm UV radiation can do to the skin, but many may not realize that exposure to UV radiation can harm the eyes or that other components of solar radiation can also affect vision.

There are three types of UV radiation: UV-C is absorbed by the ozone layer and does not present any threat; UV-A and UV-B radiation can have adverse long- and short-term effects on the eyes and vision.

If your eyes are exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation over a short period of time, you are likely to experience an effect called photokeratitis.

UV Radiation Checklist

If you can answer “yes” to one or more of the following questions, you could be at higher risk for harm to the eyes from UV radiation:

  • Do you spend a great deal of time outdoors?
  • Do you spend time skiing, mountain climbing or at the beach?
  • Do you use a sunlamp or tanning parlor?
  • Do you live in the mountains or the United States Sunbelt?
  • Are you a welder, medical technologist or do you work in the graphic arts or in the manufacture of electronic circuit boards?
  • Do you take prescription or over-the-counter drugs that can increase your sensitivity to UV radiation (check with your optometrist, pharmacist, or physician)?
  • Have you had cataract surgery in one or both eyes?

Like a “sunburn of the eye”, photokeratitis may be painful and include symptoms such as red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes”.

Related to This