Wear Sunglasses and Protect Against Harmful UV Lights
To prevent skin aging, women have always attached great importance to sun protection and UV protection. Applying sunscreen when going out on sunny days has become common sense. However, many people may overlook that the damage caused by UV rays to the human body is not limited to the skin.Eye sun protectionThe consequences are also not to be underestimated. Ultraviolet rays can cause corneal burns, leading to eye discomfort such as stinging and redness. Prolonged exposure can also cause the pigment cells on the surface of the eyeball to accumulate due to sunlight stimulation, resulting in the so-called "blackening" phenomenon. More seriously, long-term lack of eye protection significantly increases the risk of developing macular degeneration, cataracts, and pterygium. Ophthalmologists have encountered such cases: patients in their forties developed severe cataracts due to long-term neglect of eye sun protection. This shows that it is crucial to have a pair of suitable sunglasses when outdoors in contact with the sun.
Whether it's skiing in the snow in winter or enjoying the sunshine at the beach in summer, these are all popular outdoor activities for Hong Kong residents. However, ophthalmologist Li Jiayou pointed out that the seaside and snowy areas are precisely areas with extremely strong mirror reflections, making the need for eye sun protection even more urgent. The ultraviolet rays in the sun can cause varying degrees of damage to the eyes. In the short term, it may directly cause eye burns; in terms of long-term cumulative effects, it may cause macular degeneration, causing the lens in the eye to turn yellow and cloudy, eventually developing into cataracts. It may also cause pterygium hyperplasia on the surface of the eyeball. People who work outdoors for a long time, such as fishermen and farmers, have many cases of developing severe cataracts in their forties due to neglecting eye sun protection.
In the structure of the eye, the macula is the key part of the retina that collects visual information. Once macular degeneration occurs, it will seriously affect central vision. Dr. Li once explained vividly: if the eye is compared to a camera, then the lens is equivalent to the lens, the retina is the negative film, and the macula is the center of the negative film. Although macular degeneration will not lead to complete blindness, it will have a great impact on the vision.Visual functionThe damage is profound, with patients often experiencing sharp images around the periphery but blurry, central areas. Furthermore, patients may experience a gradual decline in central vision and metamorphopsia. Once retinal damage reaches a certain level, complete vision recovery is difficult.
Ultraviolet rays do more harm to the eye than just that. They also continue to damage the lens inside the eye. Under long-term exposure, the crystal protein may undergo chemical changes and gradually lose its transparency. This is the typical cause of cataracts. As for pterygium, it is a type of proliferative tissue that extends from the corner of the eye toward the pupil. It looks like a piece of meat growing on the white of the eye. It not only affects vision, but may also causeBlurred visionIf left untreated, symptoms can worsen. Furthermore, people who frequently expose themselves to sunlight may develop "conjunctival nevi" due to pigmentation in the whites of their eyes. These nevi are mostly black or brown, and their size and location vary. While they don't significantly affect vision, they can affect appearance to some extent.
As essential eye protection against UV rays, choosing sunglasses requires careful consideration. Dr. Li recommends prioritizing those with "UV400" protection (blocking UV rays with wavelengths below 400 nanometers) or "UV100%" protection (XNUMX% UV protection). The wider the lens coverage, the better the protection. Addressing the popular belief that "darker sunglasses offer better protection," Dr. Li emphasizes that, as long as the sun protection meets the required standards, lens color does not affect UV filtering effectiveness; it merely creates a different visual color difference. Citizens can choose the appropriate lens color based on their outdoor activities. He also warns against purchasing substandard sunglasses. These products not only fail to effectively block UV rays, but can also dim light and cause the pupils to naturally dilate, ultimately allowing the eyes to unknowingly absorb more UV rays, leading to more serious damage.
