I wrote this review while participating in an influencer campaign by Mom Central Consulting on behalf of HealthyWomen and VISTAKON® Division of Johnson & Johnson Vision Care, Inc. and received a promotional item from Mom Central to thank me for taking the time to participate.

Eye protection against UV rays is something I have always taken seriously.  It might come from the fact that I come from a family where Retina Pigmentosa runs deep.  I have watched my Grandfather Joseph, Aunt, and Cousin all lose their vision as they grew/grow older.  RP is a hereditary condition that there is no cure for yet, however that does not mean  that you should not keep your eyes as healthy as you can with or without it.

The Sun & Your Eyes: What You Need to Know To Stay Safe From UV Rays

The first and foremost topic is protection from UV Rays. Researchers have said that a significant amount of damage can be done before you are 18 years of age.  That is a reminder that not only adults should be wearing sunglasses, but children should be, too.  People with glasses like me may have always struggled to find a way to get UV protection, but there are options out there for you.

Option one is to get clip-on’s that go over your glasses.  These work for most people but when your lens’ start getting real thick this can cause issues.  The second option is to by Transitions on your glasses that can get really dark.  I always get Transitions because they work so well.  If that is too expensive of an option for you then there is still another couple of options.  You can buy a separate pair of prescription sunglasses or you can buy a pair of sunglasses to wear over top of your regular glasses.

Now, what you contact wearers might not know is that you have UV protection options too!  Up until just the other day I did not know that there was a UV protection option with contacts.  I probably didn’t know this because most contact lens companies do not offer UV protection contacts, but ACUVUE® OASYS® Brand Contact Lenses, or for those who prefer a daily disposable contact lens, 1-DAY ACUVUE® TruEye® Contact Lenses, offer the highest level of UV-blocking available in a contact lens.*

*UV-blocking contact lenses are beneficial in helping to protect against harmful UV rays entering into the eye, long-term clinical studies have not been done to show that they directly reduce the risk of any specific eye disease or condition. That is why they should always be worn in conjunction with high-quality UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat.

I have a couple of other tips that I know are things that I often forget to think about in regards to eye care from Healthy Women‘s website.

 

• Remember that direct sunlight isn’t the only threat to your eyes. Reflected UV rays can also be harmful. For example, fresh snow reflects as much as 80 percent of UV radiation; dry sand about 15 percent; and sea foam about 25 percent. And, because you’re more likely to look down than up, more UV light is reflected directly into your eyes. Hats with brims offer no protection from reflected UV rays.
• Select darker lenses, particularly if your eyes are light sensitive. Gray lenses offer less color distortion than other color lenses, though no more protection.
• Don’t just select sunglasses because they look cool make sure that it says that they block 99% of UV rays.

 

 

Take care of your eyes and check out HealthyWomen.org “Eye Health Center” for even more great tips of eye care.

 

 

 

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