It is common knowledge to protect your skin from the sun's UV rays to prevent sunburns and decrease the risk of developing skin cancer. However, many don't realize that UV rays are just as damaging to your eyes and the skin around your eyes. It is also important to have UV protection for your eyes by wearing sunglasses or glasses with a UV coating outdoors. Even on cloudy days or if you don't spend much time outdoors, you want to protect your eyes to prevent vision damage from UVA and UVB rays.

Since about a quarter of ultraviolet ray damage occurs before age 20, it is never too early to protect your eyes from damaging UV rays. Be proactive about protecting your and your children's eyes to reduce the risk of developing vision issues due to exposure to ultraviolet rays. Trust Urban Optics for quality sunglasses, or include a UV coating on your glasses when purchasing new lenses in College Station, TX.

WEAR SUNGLASSES TO PROTECT YOUR EYES

Blocking 100% of ultraviolet radiation is necessary for complete eye protection. UV protection sunglasses have a tiny layer of UVA—and UVB-blocking material on them to protect your eyes and skin around them from UV radiation. Therefore, UV sunglasses and glasses with UV coatings are necessary to keep your vision and eyes healthy. Urban Optics offers UV protection with stylish sunglasses and prescription UV protection glasses to provide College Station, TX, with solutions for protecting your eye health and vision.

When shopping for sunglasses, never go by the darkness of the lens because dark lenses do not stop UV rays. While most sunglasses have a standard UV coating, finding a pair with a UV400 label is essential for full protection against UV rays. UV protection sunglasses can offer between 99% and 100% protection from UV light. Oversized or wraparound UV protection sunglasses are ideal because they reduce the amount of UV rays reaching your eyes. Prescription sunglasses will typically provide complete UV protection for maintaining your eye health.

COMMON HARMFUL EFFECTS OF UV RAYS ON YOUR EYES

Protecting your eye health is crucial to preventing the harmful effects of UV rays. UV radiation can damage your eye's lens and cornea. Not wearing sunglasses or UV eye protection when outdoors can also lead to the development of certain eye growths and additional complications.

Short-term eye issues caused by UV radiation from the sun are usually temporary. Signs of short-term exposure to UV rays include your eyes feeling gritty, puffy, or like they have sand in them. Long-term UV exposure has more extreme consequences on eyes and vision. Exposure to sun rays without proper UV protection can increase the chance of developing the following eye issues:

• Age-related macular degeneration

• Cancers of the eye and eyelids

• Eye sunburn

• Damage to the cornea and conjunctiva

• Cataracts

PROTECT YOUR VISION WITH STYLISH UV PROTECTION GLASSES FROM URBAN OPTICS

Sunglasses and prescription UV protection glasses are the only way to help ensure healthy eyes for years. At Urban Optics, we offer a wide selection of stylish glasses with UV protection to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays without cramping your style. Take a step toward protecting your vision by contacting our optometrists to book an eye appointment and find the best UV protection glasses for you. Urban Optics is the all-in-one eye center in College Station, TX, that meets most of your eye care needs. From eye exams to prescription sunglasses to identifying and treating eye conditions, our doctors strive to provide you with the best experience every time.

Image Credits: New Africa // Shutterstock