Winterize your eyes: Harsh sun is just one threat in coming winter

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Winterize your eyes: Harsh sun is just one threat in coming winter

Posted On : Oct-12-2011 | seen (286) times | Article Word Count : 1020 |

Like most other people, El Paso Community College student Anel Covarrubias has never really thought about the importance of wearing sunglasses in the winter.

Like most other people, El Paso Community College student Anel Covarrubias has never really thought about the importance of wearing sunglasses in the winter.

Aside from the obvious reason -- to look fashionable -- she usually wears her Oakley sunglasses only when she drives.

"I'm guessing the UV rays would be just as strong in the winter as they are in the summer, right?" Covarrubias would be correct.

"The UV lights are still there in the winter," said Dr. Mark Gallardo, an ophthalmologist with El Paso Eye Surgeons. "UV rays can even go through clouds and still damage the eye." UV rays can lead to skin cancer on the eyelids, can damage the stem cells on the eyeball, and can lead to overgrowth of the skin on the cornea.

"There is some thought that it could lead to macular degeneration," Gallardo said.Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people older than 60. It occurs when the small central part of the retina (the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye), known as the macula, deteriorates.

Macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, but it can cause significant visual disability. Gallardo said wearing properly fitted sunglasses is one way people can prevent eye injuries.

"In certain cases, like for individuals who ski, they can actually get a sunburn on the eyeball itself called photokeratitis, which can be very painful," he said. "A lot of individuals have a difficult time keeping their eyes open because it's so painful. Some people refer to it as snow blindness."

A recent national survey conducted by N3L Optics found that one in five American adults has experienced an eye injury while participating in outdoor sports or activities.The injury rate is highest for men (1 in 3) and those ages 25-34 (1 in 4).Many of these injuries could have been prevented by simply wearing sunglasses. But it's not only skiers, walkers, runners, cyclists and golfers who can experience eye problems.

"People still do a lot of yard work in the winter," said Gallardo. "Having any kind of eye protection can prevent having trauma in the eyeball itself. I can't tell you how many times people who were just doing yard work around the house have come in for cornea liberations or even penetrating eye injuries from tree branches."In El Paso, the wind often kicks up dust, which can also create eye problems.

"If you get sand particles in the eye, it could lead to cornea liberations, which can also be painful," Gallardo said. "If that happens, we need to irrigate the sand out the patient's eyes. So yes, people can get corneal foreign bodies on windy days if they are not careful."

Catherine Kearney, the manager of N3L Optics at Cielo Vista Mall, said many people don't realize there are sunglasses made to support specific sports and outdoor pursuits."A lot of people think glasses are just for fashion," Kearney said. "One of the important questions we ask is 'What are you going to use the glasses for?' Once we know what sport or activities that person is interested in, we go from there."

The N3L Optics survey found that while 80 percent of people are worried about their eye health, nearly 25 percent do not know that sun damage can cause serious eye problems."Not wearing the glasses, you're more likely to get cancer, cataract or macular degeneration later in life," she said. "With sunglasses, you are reducing that risk, especially when you get older."

Kearney said it's more important to buy sunglass that fit comfortably than to try to be stylish."Everybody is going to have their own style," she said. "I've noticed in El Paso that a lot of people choose larger frames, thinking they're protecting their eyes. But those large frames will not necessarily protect their eyes from the sun coming in through the sides. They might look good on you, but the glasses aren't doing the full effect of what they're supposed to be doing for you."

She suggests going with sunglasses that provide coverage to the ears."I talk to a lot of soldiers who come in and say if it wasn't for sunglasses, then they would have some serious eye problems," she said. "Some of them who have been in Afghanistan or Iraq, where the sand and the sun are in their face, or the flying debris would hit their face, said if it wasn't for their glasses something would have gotten in their eye and the eyes would have been damaged completely."

It is essential that anyone planning on heading to the slopes in the coming weeks wears the right eyewear to safeguard their vision, it has been advised. Dharmesh Patel, chairman of the Eyecare Trust, said that if anyone is heading for the ski slopes this year they should not forget to pack their UV protective eyewear.

As high altitudes increase UV radiation levels and fresh snow can reflect as much as 80 per cent of the radiation, it is vital that you protect your eyes both when you're on the slopes and whilst enjoying the apres ski."Your sunglasses and ski goggles should block out at least 99 per cent of UVA and UVB light. Look out for the CE Mark or British Standard BS EN 1836:2005 to ensure they provide adequate protection," he advised.

Some contact lenses also offer UV protection and could be an option for those looking to double-up with their vision precautions.Mr Patel explained that sunglasses are either variable tints, such as transitions, or marked with a filter category number from zero to four, where four is the darkest lens.

Category four is suitable for exceptionally sunny conditions such as skiing, but people should beware, as they are illegal for driving in because they do not allow sufficient light transmission through the lens, the expert pointed out. He added that, as long as people take the time to purchase vision safeguards before travelling, they should enjoy their time on the slopes.

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<h1>Winterize your eyes: Harsh sun is just one threat in coming winter</h1> Author: <a href='http://www.articleseen.com/profile_DJ.aspx'>DJ</a> Like most other people, El Paso Community College student Anel Covarrubias has never really thought about the importance of wearing sunglasses in the winter.

Aside from the obvious reason -- to look fashionable -- she usually wears her Oakley sunglasses only when she drives.

"I'm guessing the UV rays would be just as strong in the winter as they are in the summer, right?" Covarrubias would be correct.

"The UV lights are still there in the winter," said Dr. Mark Gallardo, an ophthalmologist with El Paso Eye Surgeons. "UV rays can even go through clouds and still damage the eye." UV rays can lead to skin cancer on the eyelids, can damage the stem cells on the eyeball, and can lead to overgrowth of the skin on the cornea.

"There is some thought that it could lead to macular degeneration," Gallardo said.Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people older than 60. It occurs when the small central part of the retina (the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye), known as the macula, deteriorates.

Macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, but it can cause significant visual disability. Gallardo said wearing properly fitted sunglasses is one way people can prevent eye injuries.

"In certain cases, like for individuals who ski, they can actually get a sunburn on the eyeball itself called photokeratitis, which can be very painful," he said. "A lot of individuals have a difficult time keeping their eyes open because it's so painful. Some people refer to it as snow blindness."

A recent national survey conducted by N3L Optics found that one in five American adults has experienced an eye injury while participating in outdoor sports or activities.The injury rate is highest for men (1 in 3) and those ages 25-34 (1 in 4).Many of these injuries could have been prevented by simply wearing sunglasses. But it's not only skiers, walkers, runners, cyclists and golfers who can experience eye problems.

"People still do a lot of yard work in the winter," said Gallardo. "Having any kind of eye protection can prevent having trauma in the eyeball itself. I can't tell you how many times people who were just doing yard work around the house have come in for cornea liberations or even penetrating eye injuries from tree branches."In El Paso, the wind often kicks up dust, which can also create eye problems.

"If you get sand particles in the eye, it could lead to cornea liberations, which can also be painful," Gallardo said. "If that happens, we need to irrigate the sand out the patient's eyes. So yes, people can get corneal foreign bodies on windy days if they are not careful."

Catherine Kearney, the manager of N3L Optics at Cielo Vista Mall, said many people don't realize there are sunglasses made to support specific sports and outdoor pursuits."A lot of people think glasses are just for fashion," Kearney said. "One of the important questions we ask is 'What are you going to use the glasses for?' Once we know what sport or activities that person is interested in, we go from there."

The N3L Optics survey found that while 80 percent of people are worried about their eye health, nearly 25 percent do not know that sun damage can cause serious eye problems."Not wearing the glasses, you're more likely to get cancer, cataract or macular degeneration later in life," she said. "With sunglasses, you are reducing that risk, especially when you get older."

Kearney said it's more important to buy sunglass that fit comfortably than to try to be stylish."Everybody is going to have their own style," she said. "I've noticed in El Paso that a lot of people choose larger frames, thinking they're protecting their eyes. But those large frames will not necessarily protect their eyes from the sun coming in through the sides. They might look good on you, but the glasses aren't doing the full effect of what they're supposed to be doing for you."

She suggests going with sunglasses that provide coverage to the ears."I talk to a lot of soldiers who come in and say if it wasn't for sunglasses, then they would have some serious eye problems," she said. "Some of them who have been in Afghanistan or Iraq, where the sand and the sun are in their face, or the flying debris would hit their face, said if it wasn't for their glasses something would have gotten in their eye and the eyes would have been damaged completely."

It is essential that anyone planning on heading to the slopes in the coming weeks wears the right eyewear to safeguard their vision, it has been advised. Dharmesh Patel, chairman of the Eyecare Trust, said that if anyone is heading for the ski slopes this year they should not forget to pack their UV protective eyewear.

As high altitudes increase UV radiation levels and fresh snow can reflect as much as 80 per cent of the radiation, it is vital that you protect your eyes both when you're on the slopes and whilst enjoying the apres ski."Your sunglasses and ski goggles should block out at least 99 per cent of UVA and UVB light. Look out for the CE Mark or British Standard BS EN 1836:2005 to ensure they provide adequate protection," he advised.

Some contact lenses also offer UV protection and could be an option for those looking to double-up with their vision precautions.Mr Patel explained that sunglasses are either variable tints, such as transitions, or marked with a filter category number from zero to four, where four is the darkest lens.

Category four is suitable for exceptionally sunny conditions such as skiing, but people should beware, as they are illegal for driving in because they do not allow sufficient light transmission through the lens, the expert pointed out. He added that, as long as people take the time to purchase vision safeguards before travelling, they should enjoy their time on the slopes. 
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