Why do we need UV protection for our eyes?

Excessive exposure to UV radiation over a brief period of time may lead to inflammation in your cornea. This is basically a ‘sunburn’ of the eye; and though the symptoms, which include red eyes, a gritty feeling in the eye, pain, sensitivity to light and an increase of tears, are unpleasant, they are mercifully temporary.

However, long-term exposure can result in increasing the risk of individual developing cataracts, retinal damage, Pterygia (visible growths on the eye) and macular degeneration.

This why we need to protect our eyes the same way we use sunscreen to protect our skin. UV protection for our eyes is absolutely essential to maintain your vision. While sunglasses seem like the obvious choice and indeed play an important role, a more effective step is to opt to protect yourself when wearing your normal glasses by ensuring that you ask for a UV protective coating on your clear lenses too.