Protecting Your Eyes in the Sun: 4 Essential Tips

When out in the sun on a hot day, most people remember to protect their skin with clothing and SPF. What about the eyes?

The harm of exposing your eyes to the sun is more serious than you might first assume. It’s not just about causing squinting and increased wrinkles; too many harmful UV rays can cause serious eye conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts.

Naturally, you want to avoid these at all costs. These four essential eye-protection tips will help you do just that.

1. Get a Good Pair of Sunglasses

The best protection for your eyes when out in the sun is undeniably sunglasses. The key here is to find a genuinely high-quality pair, though. Look closely at the UV protection – glasses that have a label with UV400 are often the best at blocking harmful UV rays. You should also ensure the glasses fit well on your face without slipping or pinching your nose.

Do you wear prescription glasses? If so, finding a good pair of sunglasses can be a little harder, mostly because you need to spend extra on specific prescription sunglasses, which are more expensive. There are simpler and more affordable ways to do it, though, including clip on sunglasses. These easily clip onto your glasses, providing protection from the sun while still allowing you to see perfectly. Every glasses wearer should have these handy!

2. Never Forget the Hat

Even when wearing the highest quality sunglasses, you should always remember the hat! Sunglasses work well for blocking UV rays, but a hat provides an additional layer of protection. The best hat types for protecting the eyes include:

• Bucket Hats
• Broad-Brimmed Hats
• Sun Hats

The reality is that any hat that hangs over the front of the face should provide enough protection.

When choosing a hat for the summer, also consider the fabric. The best option here is to choose a fabric with UPF (ultraviolet protection factor) 50+ protection!

3. Stick to the Shade

You have probably heard this tip before – when the sun is at its highest (around the middle of the day), stick to the shade as much as possible. If possible, head indoors between 12 pm and 3 pm, as this will minimise sun exposure and protect your eyes.

Not only does sticking to the shade protect the eyes, but it’s also better for avoiding skin damage and overheating, both of which can be dangerous.

4. Don’t Forget Eye Protection During Activities

Are you planning on swimming in the sun? Perhaps you play a lot of sports? It is easy to forget about sun exposure when you’re caught up in a fun activity, but it’s so important to protect your body, as some eye damage is irreversible.

If swimming, invest in goggles that come with UV protection, as these will simultaneously protect your eyes from both the rays and the water. If participating in a contact sport that is hard to play with glasses on, consider contact lenses with built-in UV protection.