Written By Despina
Contributing Optometrist
You will all be aware by now of the importance of outdoor time for the purposes of reducing myopia, and getting as much distance vision as possible.
Spending time outdoors and getting away from our screens benefits us in many other ways too: filling our lungs with fresh air; getting more exercise, be it walking, cycling or jogging; experiencing real life and improving our social skills, particularly important for our young ones.
Also vitally important is the free supply of vitamin D provided by sunlight, which is important for healthy bones (the incidence of rickets is rising, incidentally), functioning of the nervous system and brain, the immune system, muscle function and prevention of diabetes and cancer. Sunlight is also responsible for controlling our biological clocks, via the photosensitive cells in our retina. This affects our sleep pattern, hormone regulation, behaviour and general well-being.
However, it’s not all good, and at this time of year we are reminded that there are also many harmful effects of the sun that we must protect ourselves against. Sunlight is not just the part we see. There is also an invisible part to the spectrum, made up of shorter wavelength ultra-violet and blue light. There is increasing evidence that this light causes damage both to the skin and the eyes, causing cancer on and around the eyes, cataracts and retinal damage.
To protect your eyes from sun damage, follow this advice:
- Always wear sunglasses outside and make sure they conform to safety standards as far as blocking out the required levels of UVA and UVB are concerned. If sunglasses don’t do this, they will merely dilate the pupil, allowing in even more harmful rays to pass unobstructed into the eye.
- Wear brimmed hats.
- Use sunscreen around the eye area as well.
- Be aware that UV light is also present on cloudy days.
- Be aware that fair skins and blue or green eyes are more vulnerable, as are children and the elderly.
Everywhere you go at this time of year you will be confronted by hats, sun-creams and racks of sunglasses, so no excuses. Stay safe, be sensible and enjoy your outdoor time.
