Being sun safe is a message that Australians have heard time and time again.
Slip, slop and slap is basically our nation’s catchphrase at this point!
But have you ever thought about the damage sun exposure may be doing to your eyes and not just your skin?
Dr Patel is a respected Australian optometrist.
(IMAGE: Specsavers)Specsavers Optometrist Dr Greeshma Patel says that in the manual for sun safety, we all needed to pay more mind to protecting our eyes.
”Living in Australia means that we can be exposed to dangerous levels of UV radiation when we’re outside, even when it’s not bright and sunny,” Greeshma told Woman’s Day.
”While our eyelids are designed to protect our eyes, the skin around our eyes is very thin and contains fragile tissues that can easily be damaged by UV light.
”This exposure to UV light can lead to serious conditions like eyelid skin cancers, intraocular melanoma, conjunctival cancers, cataracts, macular degeneration and more.”
Even during the cooler months, UV damage is still possible.
(IMAGE: Getty)For those who are unaware of just what exactly UV (ultraviolet radiation) is, UV is a specific wavelength of light (from the sun) that can cause damage to the sun.
It is always present when there is sunlight, even if it’s a cloudy day.
Greeshma also noted that whilst UV related ocular damage may not be immediately obvious like auburn on the skin, it was still just as harmful.
”The impact of UV damage isn’t instant when it comes to the eyes, it’s over the years, it builds up and then it’s often too late and the damage is already done.
Sunnies, shade and hats are the perfect weapons against UV says Dr Patel.
(IMAGE: Getty)Given we can’t use sunscreen on our eyes, how exactly can we protect our eyes?
Greeshma says it’s as easy as 1 ,2, 3.
1. Apply sunscreen on your eyelids and around your eyes: While the eyelid is designed to protect the eye, the skin is very thin and contains fragile tissues that can be damaged by UV light so it’s important to make sure you apply sunscreen to your eyelids and reapply it every two hours.
2. Wear a broad brimmed hat: This will not only provide protection to your head but also your eyes, nose, ears and neck.
3. Wear sunglasses that have UV protection: For the best kind of protection, buy sunglasses that have polarised lenses as they provide superior vision and glare protection in bright light, by eliminating 99.9% of horizontal glare, while also providing 100% UV protection.
Remember to get your eyes checked!
(IMAGE: Specsavers)Oh, and don’t forget to get your eyes checked regularly by your local optometrist!
”Time of year doesn’t matter, time of day doesn’t matter. Please just start using sunglasses as your primary defence and be proactive about getting your eyes checked for UV damage because it doesn’t just impact your eyes externally but internally as well.”
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