Now’s the time to hit the beaches, plan your picnics, explore biking and hiking trails, and enjoy warm weather vacations – summer is officially here! And while everyone knows to generously apply sunscreen to protect their skin while out in the beautiful weather, it’s equally important to shield your eyes from harmful UV rays.

The Impact of UV Rays on Your Eyes

According to a recent survey done by the American Optometric Association, only 32% of Americans understand it’s as important to shield your eyes from UV rays to prevent premature aging and diseases as it is to use sunscreen on your skin.

Did you know that you can actually get a sunburn on your eyes? It’s called photokeratitis, and symptoms include red eyes, the feeling of something in your eye, light sensitivity and excessive tearing. Too much exposure of the eyes to UV radiation can cause serious issues, like cataracts, damage to the retina, macular degeneration, and even eye cancer.

How to Protect Your Eyes

So what can you do to shield your eyes from sun damage? Here are a few tips:

  1. Buy sunglasses that cover more surface area of your face or wraparound frames and are marked with 100% UV Protection Wear them even when it’s cloudy!
  2. Put a lid on it! Wide sun hats and baseball caps will provide an extra layer of defense against the sun’s rays.
  3. Take a siesta! In Spain, locals take naps or stay in the shade during the hottest hours of the day. Whenever possible, avoid the midday sun, especially between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm when the sun and UV rays are most powerful.
  4. Go ga-ga for goggles. Using swimming goggles – with UV protection – will help keep bacteria and chemicals from entering your eyes and protect you from magnified UV rays that’ll hit you underwater.