Posted by: Eye Health Northwest in General Eye Health on July 15, 2020
Did you know that there is an entire month dedicated to UV safety in July? UV rays are bad for your eyes, which is why you don’t look right at the sun and you wear sun protection.
Despite knowing these things, people would rather be outdoors enjoying their favorite activities. But it doesn’t change the importance of protecting your eyes whenever you’re outside. Keep reading to learn more about the importance of UV Safety Month!
Why is it Important to Have UV Safety Month?
UV rays (Ultraviolet) are a specific type of ray that radiates off the sun. UV rays are intense, and they cause skin cancer and can damage your unprotected eyes.
UV Safety Month is an entire month that happens every July. It’s dedicated to educating people about the effects of UV rays.
How Do UV Rays Damage My Eyes?
During the summertime, UV rays are stronger than other seasons. With warm weather, it’s tempting to spend as much time as possible outside.
But it’s crucial that when you’re outside, you remember your eye protection! Even sitting in cars or near windows will expose you to UV rays. UV rays can bounce off different surfaces like grass, sand, and water and damage your eyes.
Tips for UV Safety Month
There are a lot of different ways you can protect your eyes. Here are tips you can use this UV safety month:
Wear Sunglasses
The easiest and most important tip is that you should wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Regular or wraparound sunglasses will both work.
Wraparound sunglasses make sure that rays cannot come through the side. Even if you wear contact lenses, you should still wear sunglasses. Contacts with UV protection won’t be enough to protect your eyes from UV rays.
Also, always wear your sunglasses when it is cloudy! UV rays can still get through clouds and fog and hurt your eyes.
Although it seems like you should only be wearing your sunglasses in the summer, wear them all year. UV rays don’t take off-seasons so make sure you’re vigilant with eye protection.
Wear a Hat
Sunglasses do a good job of keeping your eyes safe, but you can always take extra precautions. During the summertime, you should wear a broad-brimmed hat.
It never hurts to wear a hat and your sunglasses to keep your eyes safe from UV rays. This is especially important on hotter days when UV rays are beating down on you.
Don’t Look at the Sun
For most people, this is obvious, but you should not look directly into the sun. No matter the season, it can cause solar retinopathy. This means that you have damage to your retina from solar radiation.
Avoid the Sun When it’s Strongest
When the sun is at its strongest, it is recommended that people avoid exposure. The times the sun is strongest is from 10 am – 2 pm. If you are going to be outside during this period, you need to make sure to protect yourself by wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Keep Your Children’s Eyes Safe
If you are a parent, you need to remember that children are more sensitive to the sun and UV rays. This means that they need more protection.
Since a child’s eyes are easily damaged, they need a lot of protection. Anytime your child is outside, make sure they are wearing sunglasses and a hat.
Are you ready to schedule your annual eye exam? This is the best way to keep your eyes healthy and check any conditions.
Schedule an appointment at EyeHealth Northwest in Portland, OR now!
