NEW YORK, June 4 (UPI) -- Two U.S. ophthalmologists remind summer outdoor enthusiasts the eyes need protection from overexposure to the sun.
Dr. Jessica Ciralsky and Dr. Stephen Trokel of the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center in New York say sun damage can include sunburn to the cornea, tissue growth on the whites of eyes that can block vision and skin cancer on the eyelids. Overexposure to the sun has been linked to cataracts and possibly macular degeneration as well.
"There are strong indications that chronic exposure to the components of sunlight may accelerate aging of ocular tissues," Trokel says in a statement. "Any protective eyewear should have side shield protection or wrap around the eye so light cannot enter the eye from side reflections."
Trokel and Ciralsky recommend sunglasses have more than 95 percent ultraviolet protection. They also advise a dark tint is not necessarily best -- lens tint should block at least 80 percent of transmissible light but not more than 90 percent to 92 percent. Neutral gray, amber, brown or green are good colors, they say.
Don't forget to provide UV-protected sunglasses for children and always keep the eyes of babies shaded from direct sun exposure, the two advise.
