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Prevent eye disease with proper sunglasses

Colorado’s great mountain scenery is higher up in the atmosphere and thus is bombarded by more ultraviolet (UV) light. Proper sun protection is necessary both in the city, and up in the mountains.

Summertime in Colorado means spending lots of time outdoors! Not that winter keeps us down, but when the weather is nice, we are out in it: biking, swimming, running, climbing, you name it! With our outdoor-inclinations, it is important to appreciate that sunlight is an intense source of radiation that can cause long-term eye damage. Prevention is easy and can help assure that your time outside is a fun and healthy experience.

Sunlight is the most intense form of light that most people experience, and the most damaging part of the sun’s light spectrum are Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B light. This ultraviolet (UV) light can cause cataracts, skin cancers, and even contribute to macular degeneration. When you are indoors, there isn’t much of a UV threat, and your focus should be on minimizing exposure to high-energy blue light (such as from phones and computer screens). Outdoors, proper sun protection in the form of sunscreens and sunglasses is necessary for preventing damaging radiation exposure to the eyes and surrounding skin.

We all live at altitude which is a risk factor that we all share –Denver receives considerably more UV radiation than folks do that live on the coast, and it is important to account for that extra needed protection. Having lighter skin and lighter eyes also are both risk factors for being more susceptible to sun damage. It is always a good idea to determine your risk for macular disease. By knowing that risk, you can take the proper steps to prevent eye disease.

Prevention involves determining your exact susceptibility to disease. While skin tone and eye color are generally good indicators of your susceptibility to disease, the best way to know for sure how much at risk you are for developing macular degeneration is to have your macular pigment density score (MPOD) assessed. This simple subjective test allows us to quantify your MPOD. A low MPOD (defined as less that 0.5 on a scale of 0 to 1.0) should be addressed with dietary supplementation to increase the amount of zeaxanthin and lutein at the macula. A thicker pigment layer in the macula means more of a natural barrier to damage from the sun as well as blue light.

Sunglasses should block 100% of Ultraviolet A and Ultraviolet B light wavelengths. Sunglasses should offer full coverage of the eyes and surrounding lid tissues to ensure that UV damage to the lids is minimized. Sunglasses should also be durable and impact-resistant. Polarized lenses offer a great way to reduce glare, thus cutting back on headaches and eye fatigue while making great, clear vision more effortless. Several contact lens brands including Acuvue’s 1-Day Moist® lens, Acuvue’s new monthly Vita® lens, and Acuvue Oasys® with Hydraclear Plus® block UV light and are excellent choices for use outdoors. For use indoors, a good blue-blocking lens such as Crizal® Prevencia™ and BluTech® can save your eyes from damage by devices with screens.

As with any disease, prevention is the best the medicine. Cataracts, macular disease, and even skin cancers can be prevented by exposing the eyes and surrounding tissues to less damaging radiation. This summer, please go out and explore our great state, but keep a reliable pair of sunglasses on while you do so –your future self will be so thankful!  If you’d like to visit our optical department, no appointment is needed.  Should you like to schedule your annual eye check-up, feel free to call us at (303) 450-2020 or use the button below to schedule your exam online!

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