Protect Your Peepers

Now that the squint season is here, chances are you're pulling on your sunglasses more often. That's a particularly good idea for women—over the course of a lifetime, we are more likely than men to develop diseases like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration because we live longer. If you spend a lot of time in the sun or snow, it’s also possible to get a sunburn or sun blisters on your cornea. They are not only painful, but increase the chance of infection, which in turn can cause nonreversible damage to the eye.

So what can you do to safeguard your vision? Surprisingly, it's not enough to avoid the sun. Even if you're sitting in the shade, walking outside on an overcast day or riding inside a car with the windows closed, you're vulnerable to the effects of damaging ultraviolet rays. UV exposure is increased when you're near the water, snow, sand and pavement, as well as at higher altitudes or in areas near the equator.

Generally speaking, the more time you spend outside, the more UV radiation your eyes and skin are exposed to. It’s very likely that environmental changes, particularly the ongoing depletion of the stratospheric ozone layer, make your eyes more vulnerable to damage than in the past. You need to be particularly careful when the sun's rays are the most intense, during the summer and spring, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. People who have had retinal problems, cataract or laser surgery, or take certain medications (including tetracycline, sulfa drugs, birth-control pills, diuretics and tranquilizers) are at increased risk of UV eye damage.

Sunglasses are a must, but some are much better than others. Before you try on a new pair, check to make sure they have 100 percent protection against both types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB. They age your skin and cause sunburns. Both types can also give you skin cancer, as well as damage your retina, cornea and your eye's clear lens. The Food and Drug Administration has not established labeling requirements for sunglasses, but most manufacturers adhere to voluntary standards. Look for labels that say full (or 100 percent) UV protection or UV 400. These types of sunglasses are available at all price points; you don't have to buy expensive sunglasses to be protected. But you may want to spend extra to get polycarbonate lenses, which are impact- and shatter-resistant. These lenses should be able to safeguard your eyes even if your car’s airbag is deployed, which is especially important for anyone who only has vision in one eye or has had eye surgery or laser vision correction. “They are more expensive, but I think it’s well worth the price,” says Gail Royal, an ophthalmologist in Myrtle Beach, S.C. Polycarbonate lenses always come with UV and scratch protection, so don't get lured into paying extra for those features.

The color of the lens makes a difference, but not in the way you may think. UV protection is clear, so very dark-colored lenses don't add any extra UV protection (although they can make it harder for you to see clearly.) Most experts recommend gray or amber lenses. Gray distorts colors less; amber blocks out blue light. Why does that matter? "Research has shown a slight correlation between lifelong exposure to blue light and macular degeneration," says Alice J. Adler, associate professor of ophthalmology at Harvard Medical School and a member of the executive committee of the Women's Eye Health Task Force. "Blue lenses let more blue light in, so don't get sunglasses with blue lenses.” (For lots of information on eye health, check out the Web site for the Women's Eye Health Task Force: www.womenseyehealth.org .)

Most of us are looking for frames that make us look as stylish as Jackie O, or at least not like a giant fly. But some frame styles are safer than others. Try to find frames that fit snugly against your eyebrows and temples, so that your entire eye as well as your eyelids are protected. For maximum protection, try wraparound frames. “What’s just about as good is a wide brimmed hat because it shades the eyes and protects you from direct sunlight,” says Adler. If you have sensitive skin, Royal recommends frames made of plastic or titanium, rather than other metals that can cause dermatitis (inflammation of the skin).