When going to the beach, people often lather up on lotion to protect their skin. However, not everyone realizes that the skin is not the only body part vulnerable to the rays of the sun. A person's eye may also risk damage caused by overexposure to the sun.
Eye diseases associated with too much sun exposure
There are actually various diseases that you can get just by being exposed to UV rays from the sun. The most common are burns, which can occur temporarily after staring at the sun or performing activities under the sun for long periods of time. Overtime, these burns may cause permanent damage to the retina. Long term exposure to the sun may also result in pterygium, which is an abnormal growth on the surface of the eye. This can be an obstruction to the cornea and may only be removed through surgery. Another disease is macular degeneration, which is the major cause of blindness in America. Cancer of eyelids is also another probability.
Tips to protect your eyes from the sun's harmful rays
The best way to protect the eyes is by wearing sunglasses. However, make sure that you buy quality sunglasses, which could offer more protection. Try going for gray-colored lenses because this can reduce the intensity of the light without changing the colors of your surrounding.
Keep in mind that your eyes are very important if you want to live a full life. Make sure to keep them at perfect health and visit your eye doctor for check-ups.