As you pack away your summer gear in preparation for winter, make sure to keep your sunglasses to hand. Whilst the sun may no longer be hot, it is still capable of doing damage to your eyes. Wearing sunglasses year-round could prevent you from needing vision correction procedures, such as cataract surgery, in the future.
It’s not just A-list celebrities who are allowed to wear a trendy pair of sunglasses on a winter stroll – you can (and should) too. In winter, the sun is lower in the sky which can actually give you more exposure if you are outdoors for a long period. While the sun may not feel hot, it’s UV rays are just as strong – and able to cause sun damage to your eyes.
Age related eye diseases such as cataracts are often related to damage from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. To avoid eye problems like this in the future, it is vital you protect your eyes from a young age. Ensure that children are wearing sunglasses on sunny days throughout the year. While laser eye surgery can repair cataracts, prevention is far better than cure. If however, you would like to find out whether cataract surgery can help you, contact us for a free consultation.
For those of you asking “should I wear sunglasses in winter”, that live in an area prone to snowing, the answer is an even stronger yes! The sun’s glare off of the surface of the snow can result in snow blindness if you haven’t been using sunglasses. This is where the cornea gets damaged and causes a lot of pain, much like when you are suffering from sunburn. It usually heals within a week but it is not something you want to have to experience. Ensure that you have a good pair of UV protecting sunglasses when you are around snow. If last winter was anything to go by, we may well see snow again this winter in Vancouver. Laser eye surgery can correct many vision problems but if you want to avoid going through procedures like cataract surgery later in life, keep those sunglasses to hand.
If you are concerned about any sun damage to your eyes, seek the advice of an eye care professional. Book a free consultation at our Burnaby office to discuss how laser eye surgery can help you swap those prescription sunglasses for regular ones.