• Healthy State
  • Careers
  • Education
  • Research
  • Giving
Ochsner Health Ochsner Health
  • About
  • Find A Doctor (current)
  • Find A Location
  • Specialties & Treatments
MyOchsner Logo
Login | Signup
Submit Search magnifying glass icon
Close Search X icon
  •   Home
  • In To Your Health...
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
  • I need to...
  • Find A Doctor
  • Find A Location
  • Find A Specialty
  • Schedule An Appointment
  • Pay A Bill
  • Explore
  • About Ochsner
  • Careers
  • Patients & Visitors
  • "To Your Health" Blog
  • Health Resources
  • Medical Professionals
  • Education
  • Philanthropy
  • Community Outreach
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Research
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Schedule an Appointment
  • Call: 1-866-624-7637
  • Online: Login to MyOchsner
  • Personalize your content
  • patient Edit Persona Persona Chooser
To Your Health

View Newsletter Editions
  • Food & Fitness
  • Conditions & Treatment
  • Health Trends
  • Prevention & Wellness
  • Women's Health
  • Men's Health
  • Mental Health
  • Parenting
Thinkstockphotos 467381891 Father And Daughter At Beach

How to Protect Your Eyes from the Sun

May 22, 2015 |
By Thomas Fairley, OD
Share Facebook Logo Twitter Logo Pinterest Logo Email Logo

As summer draws near, the sun gets higher in the sky and stays there longer. Those long summer days provide more opportunity for outdoor activities. With increased exposure to the sunlight, it is wise to consider the effects of ultraviolet light on our body.

Long term exposure to ultraviolet or UV light from the sun not only causes skin problems like wrinkles and skin cancer, it is also harmful to the eyes. Sunlight exposure contributes to the formation of cataracts and development of macular degeneration.

Cataracts are a cloudiness that develops in the lens of the eye. Cataracts normally develop as we age. But they can also occur at earlier ages due to increased UV light exposure.

Macular degeneration occurs deep within the eye at the point where all light is focused. This part of the retina where all light is focused is called the macula. When degeneration occurs, we lose the central point of our vision and the ability to see 20/20.

Most people are aware of the benefits of suntan lotion and UV blocking sunglasses. But did you know that there are several contact lenses now available that are UV protective as well? Since these contacts are placed directly on the eye, they are able to block all UV light while sunglasses allow UV light to enter from the sides of the frames.

UV protection is so important that you can now request UV protection in your clear prescription eyeglasses. This is the same UV protection that is found in UV blocking sunglasses.

Wearing UV protective contacts or finding a pair of sunglasses that wrap around your eyes to block stray light from the side are effective ways to protect your eyes as you enjoy the summer sunshine. You might even decide to do both. No matter whether you are going to the beach, playing golf or lounging around the swimming pool, protect your eyes.

Enjoy the great outdoors during warmer weather but don’t forget:

  • Suntan lotion
  • A wide brimmed hat
  • Sunglasses
  • UV blocking contact lenses

Schedule an appointment at the Ochsner Eye Center.

Tags
sun protection
eyes

You may also be interested in:

Thinkstockphotos 163216416 Kids Playing On Slide
Parenting
November 5, 2020

Playing Outside Can Reduce the Risk of Short-Sightedness in Kids

Spending too much time indoors is putting children at risk of developing myopia at a young age.
By Kefla Brown, OD, MS
Thinkstockphotos 494378295 Girl Examining Butterfly
Prevention & Wellness
September 30, 2019

Tips to Keep Your Child’s Vision Healthy

Check out these tips to keep your child’s vision healthy.
By Kefla Brown, OD, MS
Thinkstockphotos 494896581 Music Festival
Health Trends
September 4, 2020

Sun Safety at Outdoor Festivals

It's important to protect your skin from too much sun exposure, especially during festival season.

email envelop icon Comments about the blog? Send us an email!

Ochsner Health

Schedule An Appointment: 1-866-624-7637

Follow us: Facebook Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok Twitter Follow Ochsner Health on Twitter LinkedIn Visit Ochsner Health's LinkedIn page Instagram Follow Ochsner Health on Instagram YouTube Subscribe to Ochsner Health on YouTube Pinterest Follow Ochsner Health on Pinterest TikTok Follow Ochsner Health on TikTok

Healthy living tips, delivered weekly to your inbox.

Sign Up

Patients & Visitors

  • Billing & Financial Services
  • Insurance Information
  • International Patients
  • Request Medical Records
  • Share Your Story
  • Read Patient Stories

Medical Professionals

  • Transfer a Patient
  • Refer a Patient

Health Resources

  • To Your Health Blog
  • Golden Opportunity
  • Healthy State
  • Ochsner Magazine

Job Seekers

  • Career Paths
  • Benefits
  • Open Positions

Employees

  • Webmail
  • OHSLink
  • Workday

Employers

  • Corporate Wellness
  • Medicare Advantage Plans

Community Outreach

  • Classes & Events
  • Programs
  • Community Health Needs Assessment
  • Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

Education

  • Graduate Medical Education
  • Clinical Medical Education
  • Continuing Medical Education
  • Medical Library
  • Publishing Services
  • Medical Illustrations

Research

  • Clinical Trials
  • Applied Health Services Research
  • Clinical Research & Trials
  • Nursing Research
  • Translational Research

Giving

  • Donate
  • Volunteer

About Ochsner

  • Mission & Vision
  • History
  • Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
  • Annual Report
  • Outcomes & Honors
  • News & Media
  • Alumni
  • Ochsner Health Network
  • Contact Us

Shop

  • O Bar
  • Optical Shop
  • Ochsner Fitness Center
  • Brent House Hotel

© Ochsner Health  | Notice of Privacy Practices | Terms of Use | Vendor Information

Ochsner accepts all major insurances.

Ochsner is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization, founded on providing the best patient care, research, and education.

We are one of the country’s largest non-university based academic medical centers.

Ochsner is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin or ancestry, citizenship, sexual orientation, gender identity, veteran status, disability or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.

Community Needs Health Assessment

EpicMobile Tablet | EpicMobile Phone

newsletter icon

Subscribe to Our Newsletters

newsletter icon

Select the newsletters you'd like to receive.

Please select at least one category to continue.

Curious about our newsletters?

View details for each edition
newsletter icon

Let us know where to send your newsletters.

To Your Health- Food and Fitness:
To Your Health- General:
To Your Health- Men’s Health:
To Your Health- Parenting:
To Your Health- Women’s Health:
To Your Health-Mental Health Monthly":
To Your Health- Skin Deep:

Source:
Source Description:
Marketing Goal:
newsletter icon

You're all set!

We’ll send newsletters full of healthy living tips right to your inbox.

Ochsner Health System
magnifying glass icon
ESC to Close

Begin Typing to Search

Select the drop-down to filter Search by Blog Articles or Sitewide