Many people love basking in the summer sun. But if you're one of them, keep your eye care in mind since sunlight can hurt your vision if you're not careful. Learn more about the kind of damage that can happen and what you can do to prevent it.

How the Sun Can Damage Your Eyes

UV light has many benefits, but overexposure is potentially harmful in numerous ways. For example, unlike other kinds of light, UV light can enter the cornea and reach your retina. This may alter the retinal issue and lead to any of the following diseases or conditions.

Cataracts

When proteins break down and clump together in your eye tissue, cloudy films known as cataracts form over your lenses. If not treated, this condition may eventually result in complete blindness.

Keratitis

Essentially a sunburn in your cornea, keratitis happens the same way other sunburns do—prolonged and unprotected exposure to direct UV light or its reflection. It's usually temporary but can cause permanent damage without attention or treatment.

Pterygium

Excessive exposure to sunlight and its reflection may cause the outer membrane of the eye to become inflamed and extend toward the center, which is called pterygium. It can be resolved with treatment but may disfigure the eye if ignored.

Macular Degeneration

The macula is in the middle of the retina and provides you with clear and precise vision. Evidence suggests UV rays can damage it, leading to farsightedness or total vision loss over time.

Skin or Eye Cancer

Eyelid skin can develop cancer, resulting in bumps, inflammation, and loss of eyelashes. The eye itself is prone to cancer as well. Such issues can be caused or worsened by excess UV light, and only professional eye care can fix them.

Protection Tips

Taking precautions will make a significant difference in summer eye care. Sunglasses with 100% UV or UV400 protection will block sunlight from hitting your eyes. You can even get prescription sunglasses if you don't want to wear a regular pair with contact lenses. Wide-brimmed hats are helpful for the same reason. If possible, stay indoors altogether from midday to early afternoon, when the sun is the strongest.

Also, avoid looking at the sun or anything that reflects its light, such as lake or river water. If you do any water-related activities, like swimming, tubing, or water-skiing, wear UV-blocking goggles.

When you need professional eye care this summer, head to The Whitefish Eye Center in Whitefish, MT. With over 40 years of experience in optometry, they perform thorough eye exams to diagnose diseases or infections and create personalized treatment plans. Call (406) 862-2020 to make an appointment, or find out more about their offerings online.