The sun contains 99.8% of the solar system's mass, is 4.5 billion years old, and reaches surface temperatures of nearly 10,000 degrees Fahrenheit-a pretty impressive resume, not to mention it essentially sustains life here on earth.
But did you know that light from the sun can bleach the retina's photosensitive pigments, causing temporary blindness?
Damage to your eyes from the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays is cumulative and can cause pteryguim (tissue growth on the whites of the eyes that can diminish vision) and age-related macular degeneration (deterioration of a part of the retina).
In addition, UV rays are the biggest culprit in the formation of cataracts. The World Health Organization estimates there are 16 million people worldwide who are blind as the result of cataracts, and as many as 20% of the cases may be due to UV radiation exposure.
The best way to protect your eyes from the sun is to stay out of it! But since that isn't likely to happen, with a little protection and common sense, you can enjoy the beautiful outdoors to your heart's content.
What to look for in a pair of sunglasses:
1) Look for a label that tells you how much UV protection the sunglasses offer. Ideally, your shades should block 99% to 100% of UV radiation.
2) Close-fitting sunglasses help block light more effectively: look for wraparound shades or large lenses.
3) Dark colored sunglasses don't necessarily protect you better. It's a special coating on the lens that makes them safe, not their darkness.
4) Gray, green, and brown lenses usually give better protection than other colors.
5) More expensive shades may be more fashionable, but they don't provide more protection.
Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses. Besides making you look pretty slick, a good pair of shades can provide protection from the sun's harmful effects!
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