Whether you're basking beach-side or getting your glow from lunchtime jaunts to your favorite eatery this summer, chances are you take some precautions to protect your skin from the sun's damaging rays.
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But experts also recommend defending your eyes during the summer months.
Though the effects of ultra violet (UV) radiation on the eyes isn't known entirely, long-term exposure to UV rays is thought to contribute to a number of vision problems, including cataracts and even vision loss.
"I think people are concerned in terms of the retina (being damaged by UV), but there is very little data from the human studies, the epidemiological studies, to suggest that's true," said Dr. Emily Chew, deputy director of the Division of Epidemiology and Clinical Research at the National Eye Institute in Washington, D.C. "... We just don't have good data. There's good theoretical reasons to suggest that, but that may be it."
Dr. Stephen Cohen, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based optometrist and the former president of the Arizona Optometric Association, said UV rays have been implicated in adversely affecting several structures in the eye, including the eyelids, cornea and retina.
Long-term exposure to UV rays, he said, is believed to be related to the development of cataracts (a clouding of the eye's lens), macular degeneration (a deterioration of part of the retina) and photokeratitis (a sort of sunburn of the cornea).
Unlike the skin, where too much sun is evidenced by tanning or burning, the eyes show very little immediate evidence of too much sun exposure. Aside from photokeratitis, Cohen said most people have no idea their eyes may be paying the price of too much sun.
"Unlike a sunburn, where you get a wake-up call the next day and you're aware of the fact that wasn't a good idea, (and say) 'Maybe I should pay more attention the next time I'm spending more time in the sun,' these (problems) are hidden issues where the price tag is going to be paid at a much later date," Cohen said.
Because UV exposure is thought to contribute to vision problems later in life, experts recommend protecting the eyes from the sun with quality sunglasses and other protective coverings.
And investing in a good pair of sunglasses, Cohen said, is the first step.
"In the past, one of the problems with sunglasses is they weren't regulated to ... require that ultra violet protection be built in, or to have that listed on the lens," Cohen said. "When people get sunglasses, they should look for a label ... that should say 99 to 100 percent UV protection."
Cohen said darker sunglasses do not make for better protection - darker lenses simply block out more visual light, but still can let UV rays in if not coated to block UV rays. Sunglasses typically also do not protect the entire eye area, and some studies estimate they do not work to block all of the harmful rays the eyes are exposed to.
"The problem is that sunglasses have a limited area that they cover," he said. "When you hear estimates that sunglasses may block only 50 percent, it may block up to 100 percent of the UV that's coming straight through the lens, but it doesn't take into account the two other areas. That's the UV that we're exposed to from around the edges beyond the sunglasses' frame, and also potentially the UV that's coming from behind us that may reflect off of the back surface of the lens and then reflect into our eye."
Because of that, Cohen said some individuals may be interested in wearing contact lenses that block UV rays as extra protection for their eyes. Some brands of contacts can block nearly 100 percent of UV rays. Cohen said contacts with UV protection can even be worn by people without a need for vision correction.
But Chew said the data for how much protection UV blocking sunglasses and contacts actually provide is soft at best.
Some even question whether sunglasses actually can contribute to eye diseases they are supposed to protect against.
"If you can wear your sunglasses, probably those help, but we don't know that for sure," she said. "There are discussions about how good some of those sunglasses are. Do they really protect (from) the UV? Do they make your pupil dilate and let (UV rays) in?"
Still, there are precautions that can be made to help protect the eyes.
Cohen recommends staying out of the sun and taking extra precaution during the middle of the day, when the sun's rays are at their harshest. Wearing a hat with a brim can help protect the eyes from the sun.
He also emphasizes sun protection for the entire family to ensure both parents and children can maintain good vision throughout life.
"It's estimated about 80 percent of the ultra violet we're exposed to in our entire lifetime happens by the time we're 18 years of age," Cohen said. "The time to look at UV protection for our children, as far as eyes are concerned, is during those child and adolescent years. I think a critical point that parents should understand is that protecting their children's eyes early will pay the benefit later in life."
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