Dear Reader,
Ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can damage your eyes as well as your skin. Long-term exposure to UV radiation can increase your risk of eye disease, particularly cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. The best way to protect your eyes from the sun is to wear sunglasses designed to block UV radiation and eliminate glare. Look for a pair of sunglasses that block 99% to 100% ultraviolet A and ultraviolet B light.
Wear sunglasses anytime you're outdoors for more than a few minutes, including cloudy days. Even when clouds are blocking the sun, they don’t block all UV radiation. Besides wearing sunglasses when you're outdoors, follow these tips to keep your eyes protected from the sun: - Wear a wide-brimmed hat or cap. A large amount of sunlight comes from directly overhead and can slip past most sunglasses.
- Never look at the sun directly, even through sunglasses. Doing so can permanently damage your eyes. You can also hurt your eyes by routinely staring at the sun reflected on water.
- Wear protective sunscreen on your face and around your eyes, including on your eyelids.
- Avoid commercial tanning booths. If you do use them, make sure the salon gives you special protective goggles to wear.
- Make sure you know if your medications are sun-sensitizing. If so, be extra cautious when outside. Wear sunglasses and a hat each time you go outside. Many common medications — including antibiotics, antidepressants, diuretics, statins and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) — make your eyes more sensitive to light.
- Protect your eyes whenever you go outside, no matter how briefly, if you have an eye disease, such as macular degeneration — you're at greater risk of UV-related eye damage.
Yours in good health,
Sophie Bakri, M.D. | 
