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June 27th – Sunglasses Day and The Importance on Aging Adults Eye Health 

 

Why are sunglasses so important?

Aging adults are at a higher risk than younger individuals for skin cancer around the eyes, dry eyes, cataracts, and macular degeneration. Sunglasses can help with dry eyes because they create an additional protection layer from the sunlight and wind. Overall sunglasses help protect from harmful UV rays even according to the article ““6 Important Benefits of Sunglasses for Seniors This Summer,””

“Sunlight contains ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage your eyes. Prolonged exposure to these rays can cause various issues, such as photokeratitis, also known as ultraviolet keratitis. This condition is essentially a sunburn on the eyes, leading to severe pain. The risk is heightened for seniors due to age-related eye conditions that may make their eyes more vulnerable. Wearing sunglasses with 100% UV protection effectively shields your eyes from these harmful rays and prevents potential damage,” (Senior Helpers). These UV rays have also been correlated by some research to accelerate the development of cataracts and macular degeneration. This leads us to general eye health.

In addition to wearing sunglasses, here are some general eye health tips for aging adults. According to the National Institute of Aging, “Tips for healthy eyes at any age… Protect your eyes from sunlight by wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a hat with a wide brim when you are outside, Stop smoking, Make smart food choices, Be physically active and maintain a healthy weight, Maintain normal blood pressure, Manage diabetes (if you have it), If you spend a lot of time at the computer or focused on one thing, take a break every 20 minutes to look about 20 feet away for 20 seconds to prevent eye strain,” (National Institute of Aging).

Make sure you take care of your eyes as you age. 

 

 

 

 

Sources: 

  1. https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/vision-and-vision-loss/aging-and-your-eyes#:~:text=Regular%20eye%20exams%20are%20your,things%20like%20driving%20and%20reading.