Keep your eyes healthy this summer

    If you often hear about that you should to reapply sunscreen and countless beauty articles telling you to slather in this summer, hopefully you’re well aware of how important it is to protect yourself when out in the sun. It is the cumulative effects of lifetime exposure to the sun that causes aging and damage to the eye tissues, so it is extremely important to take precautions as young adults and continue to protect your eyes throughout life. Ultraviolet rays can cause skin cancer on the lids, abnormal tissue growth on the white part of the eye, and contribute to the formation and progression of cataracts (clouding of the eye's internal lens). For full protection, wear large, close-fitting wrap-around sunglasses as well as a broad-brimmed hat. Contact lens wearers can benefit from UV-blocking contact lenses, which affords the maximum level of UV protection available in contact lenses. This helps to block rays that often "sneak" underneath and around the sides of the sunglasses and can contribute to ongoing exposure. Sunglasses should always be worn in conjunction with UV-blocking contact lenses. And, of course, wear sunscreen!