Newswise — As the parade of cloudless spring days begins, ophthalmologists at UT Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas remind everyone to protect their eyes from the sun.
"Sunglasses should be used by adults and children when outdoors for prolonged periods of time. For eyeglass wearers, polycarbonate lenses, which are thin and shatterproof, offer protection from ultraviolet radiation," says Dr. V. Vinod Mootha, associate professor of cornea, external disease, refractive and cataract surgery. The surface of the eye and the cornea are particularly vulnerable to the sun's rays. "Excessive exposure may increase the risk for the formation of a fleshy tissue over the cornea, some forms of cataract and possibly macular degeneration," Dr. Mootha says.
UV-B exposure is higher on sunny days (especially at noon) and low-ozone days. Dr. Mootha says some sunlight is good for you but common sense should be a guide for limiting your exposure.
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