And that’s not the only cause of concern when it comes to eye health and the sun.
This one’s not a secret, but it’s important. The sun's brightness and glare have the ability to interfere with vision in general. That’s why too much sun leads to squinting and watering of the eyes.
Spending just two or three hours in bright sunlight can affect the ability to adapt to indoor lighting or nighttime darkness. This can make for hazardous driving conditions. In other words, not having the right pair of shades could lead to a wreck. That’s a definite eye opener.
Experts also say that sunglasses can protect the eyelids from cancer. Though we rarely think about it, cancer of the eyelids is common. In fact, nonmelanoma skin cancers are often found in the eyelid region.
Two of these types of cancer are basal cell carcinoma (BCC), and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). These cancers make up 5 to 10 percent of all skin cancers. And with these cancers comes a risk of damage to the eye as well as the potential for blindness.
Another thing to be aware of is the risk of cataracts. Sunglasses can actually slow the development of cataracts. Though this condition is most common among older folks, it can affect younger people. Even more important, it is thought to occur as a result of lifetime exposure to the UV rays of the sun.
UV rays can cause snow blindness, which is medically referred to as photokeratitis. Though temporary, this condition can be painful – it's a sunburn on the eye's surface. Ouch!