Splash Zone
UV Protection: Don't Forget The Sunglasses
While sunscreen will always be a must for UV protection in the sun, don’t forget about protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays with UV-rated sunglasses.
By now, you’ve probably heard that sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can be harmful to your skin—two types of UV rays that can cause sunburn, premature skin aging and skin cancer. But what you may not be thinking of when heading out to the pool or the beach, is that the same UV radiation that can harm your skin, can also harm your eyes.
If you are going to be exposed to ultraviolet rays from the sun, then you need to apply a sunscreen with an SPF rating of at least 15—higher if you are fair skinned or have shown a previous sensitivity to sunlight. Sunscreen should be applied over all exposed areas of your skin, and you should limit your time in the sun between
If you wear sandals or go barefoot, don’t forget to apply sunscreen to these sensitive areas as well, as they are often the parts of your body that are least acclimated to sunlight. Follow label instructions for recommendations on how often to reapply sunscreen as well.
Protecting your eyes from UV radiation.
To better protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, you’ll need to look for two mandatory features in sunglasses that provide strong UV protection. Sunglass products should state clearly that they absorb at least 90 percent of UV-rays—in particular, the shorter-wavelength UVB-rays which are particularly harmful to the eyes.
In addition, your sun lenses should offer as much eye coverage as possible—wraparound shades are a good example of this. Substance over style is important here—because UV light can reach your eyes from the unprotected sides of your lenses as well.
UV Protection is a necessity.
Sunlight, like almost everything we enjoy, is good for us when taken in responsible moderation. Protecting your skin and your eyes from harmful UV rays is part of that responsibility.
