UV Protection For Your Eyes
The sun is heating up and as much as sunblock is needed, we highly recommended sunglasses at all times. Sunglasses help to protect your eyes from UV rays. Check out these tips from The Vision Council that can help you understand the importance of protecting your eyes from the sun.
What are Ultraviolet Rays?
UV, or ultraviolet, rays come from the sun and are classified into three categories: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA and UVB takes about 8 minutes and 20 seconds to reach the Earth’s surface, after passing through the atmosphere.
Why do UV Rays Hurt Your Eyes?
UVA
This accounts for up to 95% of UV radiation. These rays can pass through the atmosphere and onto the Earth’s surface where they’re 30 - 50 times more prevalent than UVB rays. Over time, they can produce long term, severe damage to skin cells.
UVB
Unlikely UVA rays, UVB rays are more likely to penetrate on cloudy days and are more prevalent at higher altitudes. They are highly reflective off of snow and ice, making it just as damaging as direct UV exposure. Water reflects up to 100% of UV rays while snow reflects up to 85%. Dry sand and concrete can reflect up to 25% as well.
Sunscreen isn’t the only thing you’ll be needing during the summer. Sunglasses with UV protection are essential in helping to prevent damage to your eyes from UV rays. The damage adds up and adults have reported to both see and feel UV’s effect overtime.Children have immature lens which make them especially susceptible to UV-related eye damage. Some examples of UV damage include:
Short Term UV Damage Effects:
- Photokeratitis (aka sunburnt eyes)
- Bloodshot Eyes
- Swollen Eyes
- Photophobia (hypersensitivity to light)
Long Term UV Damage Effects:
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
- Cataracts
- Pterygium
- Cancer of the Eye & Surrounding Skin
How Does UV Lights Enter Your Eye?
UVA and UVB radiation enter the eye by penetrating the cornea. Light then passes through the cornea to the pupil and moves to the iris where light intensity is controlled. Unfiltered UV light causes damage to the retina over time.
DID YOU KNOW: The Collamer material that makes up the Visian ICL has unique properties that provide UV protection. For more on the benefits of the Visian ICL click here: DiscoverVisianICL.com
Important Safety Information
The Visian ICL is intended for the correction of moderate to high nearsightedness. Visian ICL and Visian TICL surgery is intended to safely and effectively correct nearsightedness between -3.0 D to -15.0 D, the reduction in nearsightedness up to -20.0 D and treatment of astigmatism from 1.0 D to 4.0 D. If you have nearsightedness within these ranges, Visian ICL surgery may improve your distance vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses. Because the Visian ICL corrects for distance vision, it does not eliminate the need for reading glasses, you may require them at some point, even if you have never worn them before.
Implantation of the Visian ICL is a surgical procedure, and as such, carries potentially serious risks. Please discuss the risks with your eye care professional. Complications, although rare, may include need for additional surgical procedures, inflammation, loss of cells from the back surface of the cornea, increase in eye pressure, and cataracts.
You should NOT have Visian ICL surgery if:
- Your doctor determines that the shape of your eye is not an appropriate fit for the Visian ICL
- You are pregnant or nursing
- You do not meet the minimum endothelial cell density for your age at the time of implantation as determined by your eye doctor
- Your vision is not stable as determined by your eye doctor
Before considering Visian ICL surgery you should have a complete eye examination and talk with your eye care professional about Visian ICL surgery, especially the potential benefits, risks, and complications. You should discuss the time needed for healing after surgery. For additional information with potential benefits, risks and complications please visit DiscoverICL.com
References
1Visian ICL Patient Information Booklet
2Sanders D. Vukich JA. Comparison of implantable collamer lens (ICL) and laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for Low Myopia. Cornea. 2006 Dec; 25(10):1139-46.
3Naves, J.S. Carracedo, G. Cacho-Babillo, I. Diadenosine Nucleotid Measurements as Dry-Eye Score in Patients After LASIK and ICL Surgery. Presented at American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) 2012.
4Shoja, MR. Besharati, MR. Dry eye after LASIK for myopia: Incidence and risk factors. European Journal of Ophthalmology. 2007; 17(1): pp. 1-6.
5Lee, Jae Bum et al. Comparison of tear secretion and tear film instability after photorefractive keratectomy and laser in situ keratomileusis. Journal of Cataract & Refractive Surgery , Volume 26 , Issue 9 , 1326 - 1331.
6Parkhurst, G. Psolka, M. Kezirian, G. Phakic intraocular lens implantantion in United States military warfighters: A retrospective analysis of early clinical outcomes of the Visian ICL. J Refract Surg. 2011;27(7):473-481.