Raleigh, North Carolina -- I am officially calling you out.  We all know that we should be wearing sunglasses every time we step outdoors, right? According to recent data published by the Vision Council, it may be time to rethink this assumption. Surprisingly large amounts of surveyed Americans not only are not wearing their sunglasses, they don't even associate sunglasses wear with health benefits.  Here are some of the survey findings that may shock you (all results are from the 2012 Vision Council report):

As an optometrist practicing in Raleigh, it was really disheartening to learn that so many of my fellow Raleighites don't wear sunglasses.  In fact, only 26% of those surveyed in my community wear sunglasses on a regular basis.  Unfortunately, the Raleigh area has a large amount of risk for UV damage during the year -- 29.86% of days out of the year have a UV exposure classified as extreme or very high risk for damage.  So by not wearing sunglasses, my fellow citizens are exposing themselves to high risks for damage.  We are getting UV exposure even on cloudy or overcast days -- but why aren't we protecting ourselves?

Sunglasses are an item so ubiquitous in today's society, they sometimes seem like more of a fashion statement than a medical device.  The great thing about sunglasses is that they are truly both.  Just like dermatologists are checking your skin for possible cancerous growths from UV damage, your optometrist is checking your eyes for UV damage at every yearly visit.  By looking for cataracts, eyelid cancers, and growths on the white of the eye like pinguecula and pterygium, your eye doctor can find early sun damage and intervene before it is too late.  If you are one of those people who think sunglasses are inconvenient, or not important for you, please take a step back to reconsider.  The UV damage you are exposing yourself to today will not affect you for years, but by the time you have vision loss from cataracts or macular degeneration, it is too late to change your habits. We live in a world where information is right at our finger tips, so let's start with something easy that can make a difference in your health for the rest of your life.  It all starts with just putting on your sunglasses.  Follow our lead, or any of the other trendsetters or bloggers or celebrities that are so much more stylish than we claim to be, but are setting a great example!

1) UV light damage increases the risk for vision threatening conditions

Extended UV exposure has been linked to several eye conditions, the most common of which include macular degeneration and cataracts.  While cataracts are not a disease of the eye (see this post for more information), the rate of progression and severity of the cataract greatly increases with sun exposure.  Macular Degeneration is a condition that can cause permanent blindness, where sun exposure compounds genetic and nutritional factors to cause permanent damage to the patient's central vision.  The damage from harmful UV rays accumulates over a lifetime, so even though macular degeneration is a condition that we see affecting vision later in life, protecting your eyes now can save your sight later. 

2) Sunglasses also protect the skin around your eyes and eyelids from harmful UV radiation

This is a point that is easily overlooked, but the skin around our eyes is very sensitive to sun damage as well.  There are multiple skin cancers that are common around eyelid skin, the most common of which is basal cell carcinoma (pictured below).   Most people are not applying sunscreen so close to their eyes, so wearing sunglasses will give that added protection.  If you notice a growth around your eyelid that seems to be increasing in size, changing in color, or scabbing or bleeding, please contact your doctor immediately to rule out a cancerous lesion!

3) Sunglasses can actually enhance vision

A recent study by N3L Optics (a supplier of sports equipment) shows that less than 66% of active outdoor athletes wear consistent sun protection.  If the health benefits listed above are not enough to sway your mind, athletes should also consider that polarized sunglasses can  enhance their vision for certain outdoor sports.  Polarized lenses help filter out annoying glare from horizontal surfaces that can cause eye strain and fatigue in activities like water sports and snow sports.  And yes, wearing sunglasses for snow and water sports are even more important due to the added light being reflected from the surface below.  UV radiation is now being bounced at your eyes both overhead from the sun and from the ground below you, putting your eyes that much more at risk.

What to look for in sunglasses

When I recommend sunglasses, I always tell my patients that they don't have to buy an expensive pair to protect their eyes.  Almost every pair of sunglasses sold over the counter are 100% UV-A and UV-B blocking.  For added protection, choosing a frame that is wrapped closer to your face can prevent those damaging rays from entering through the side of the lenses.  Beware, however, because wrapped frames can sometimes cause vision distortion.  If you hold your lenses away from your face and look through to a distant straight line, you should not see that line bend or wave through the glasses.  If you do, that means that there is some inherent distortion to the lenses.  If you are purchasing prescription sunglasses, your eye care provider will be able to tell you if the wrap of the lenses will cause too much visual distortion.

Some contact lenses even have UV protection--look for the information on your contact lens box.   Acuvue boxes have a little decal on the bottom front cover.