Surfing. Hiking. Swimming. The summer sun shines a light on some of the best outdoor activities. But that same sun can also bring out a myriad of eye health problems. Enjoying summer exercise starts with protecting our eyes.
The eyes have it
Prolonged sun exposure has been repeatedly proven to be extremely harmful to the eyes, says Dr. Reena Garg, assistant professor of ophthalmology at the New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai. “Summer is specifically a period of concern,” she notes, “as we tend to spend more time outdoors.”
Make wise choices
Since sun damage is cumulative, the choices we make every day matter. Over time, UV radiation can cause macular degeneration, eyelid cancer, growths on the eye’s surface and more. Garg ranks cataracts as the most common problem. Cataracts cause cloudy vision, a hard time seeing at night, sensitivity to light and double vision.
Though much rarer than cataracts, Garg says one of the most serious complications of prolonged UV exposure is the cancer melanoma. “While most of us think of melanoma as a skin condition, it can occur in the eye,” she warns.
Lack of awareness
The list of risks is extensive. Unfortunately, awareness of these risks is not so extensive, says optometrist Stephen Taylor. “Studies show that barely one in six say that eye health was the reason for wearing sunglasses. The majority believe that sunglasses are best suited to cutting glare.”
Unexpected risks
Even if we’re aware of potential eye health problems, the summer activities we all enjoy can heighten our risks in ways we don’t expect.
Hiking
“Don’t forget that, when hiking at higher altitudes, the air is thinner, so there is more UV radiation,” says Taylor. UV radiation jumps by 4 percent for every 1,000 ft (305 m) of elevation.
Water sports
“Reflected light off the surface of the water can be equally or more harmful than direct sunlight,” says Garg. Meanwhile, sand at the beach reflects up to 25 percent of UV radiation.
Outdoor sports
When shooting hoops or playing tennis, be aware of the pavement. When the sun hits concrete, the concrete can reflect up to 25 percent of the UV radiation.
Wear shades, avoid rays
Donning sunglasses is one effective way to protect our eyes from the sun. But walk into any store and the multiple options can be dizzying. Look for:
- 100 percent UVA/UVB labels
- The right color: gray, copper and brown lenses help reduce bright light conditions (ideal for outdoor sports like baseball, cycling, golf and water sports). Rose and amber lenses are better for low light conditions (ideal for hiking in shady spots).
- Polarized lenses. They don’t help with UV rays, but they can cut out glare, reducing eye strain in bright conditions.
- Wrap-around frames. Studies show that small frames allow so much light to enter the eye from other angles that it can negate some of the benefits of UV-protective lenses.
