Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/709569
maltatoday, SUNDAY, 31 JULY 2016 IV Outdoor Living Sunglasses: definitely a must under the UV glare Five reasons why sunglasses are necessary today and five tips to keep your eyes healthy UV Protection The sun's UV radiation can cause cataracts; benign growths on the eye's surface; and photokeratitis, sometimes called snow blindness, which is a tem- porary but painful sunburn of the eye's surface. Wide-brimmed hats and caps can block about 50 percent of UV ra- diation from the eyes but optometrists say that is not enough protection. Blue-Light Protection Long-term exposure to the blue and violet portion of the solar spectrum has been implicated as a risk factor for macular degeneration, especially for individuals that are "sun sensitive." Comfortable vision The sun's brightness and glare inter- feres with comfortable vision and the ability to see clearly by causing people to squint and the eyes to water. Dark adaptation Spending just two or three hours in bright sunlight can hamper the eyes' ability to adapt quickly to night-time or indoor light levels. This can make driv- ing at night after spending a day in the sun more hazardous. Skin cancer Cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes is more common than people think. People should wear sunglasses outdoors whether they are working, driving, participating in sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun. Five Tips for Healthy Eyes 1. Wear protective eyewear any time your eyes are exposed to UV light, even on cloudy days and during winter months. 2. Look for quality sunglasses that offer good protection. Sunglasses should block out 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB radiation and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light. 3. Check to make sure your sun- glass lenses are perfectly matched in colour and free of distortions and imperfections. 4. Purchase grey-coloured lenses. They reduce light intensity without al- tering the colour of objects, providing the most natural colour vision. 5. Don't forget protection for children and teenagers. They typically spend more time in the sun than adults.