Most people know the best ways to protect your body from harmful UV rays, but you may be forgetting about your eyes. Turns out your shades are more than a fashion statement. Sunglasses could help you avoid problems as varied as sunburn, cataracts and skin cancer.

Let’s look at a list of how specific areas of your eye are effected by the sun.

White of the eye

Sun damage can cause a condition called pinguecula, a thickening of the conjunctive, which is the clear, thin membrane that covers the white of the eye. This causes raised, yellow spots on the eye, near the cornea. While there’s no known danger to vision, it can get irritated and inflamed. The conjunctiva also thicken and grow over the cornea, creating a condition called pterygium (also known as surfer’s eye), which might obscure vision.

Iris

Research has suggested that blue-eyed people are more susceptible to macular degeneration, according to Brown. While at this point we don’t know the exact reason, it is recommended even more strongly that people with light eyes wear sunglasses.

Retina

The retina is a light-sensitive layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye. The macula is the part of the retina where we have straight ahead and detailed vision. That macula can start to deteriorate, causing a condition called macular degeneration, leading to blurred vision or a blind spot. Some information suggests there could be an association between UV light and macular degenation.

Lens

Behind the iris of the eye is a crystalline lens that helps to focus light onto the retina. That lens fan develop a cloudiness, whick is known as a cataract. UV light has been implicated in the development of some types of cataracts. The more you wear sunglasses and a hat, the longer you can put it off.

Cornea

Here’s a common summertime scenario: People go the shore for the day, and as they’re driving home their eyes feel kind of gritty, like maybe there’s sand in them. By 10 p.m. they’re in agony and by 11 they’ve landed in the ER for a sunburned cornea, which is a giant scratch on the cornea. While it doesn’t cause long term damage, it can cause tremendous pain and even temporary blindness.

Skin around the eyes

The skin around the eyes and, in particular, the eyelids are made up of a very thin tissue. Over time, repeated UV exposure (not to mention constant squinting) can lead to wrinkles and age spots, as well as small skin cancers around the eye.

With laser vision correction surgery you can ditch those glasses & contacts for a great pair of effective sunglasses. Schedule your FREE evaluation with Eye LASIK Midland today! Click HERE or by clicking in the image below.