430F06018
            PREVENT  EYE
            DAMAGE
            Protect  Yourself  from
            UV  Radiation
        ost Americans
        understand the link
        between ultraviolet
(UV) radiation and skin
cancer. Many are less
aware of the connection
between UV radiation and
eye damage. With increased
levels of UV radiation
reaching the Earth's surface,
largely due to stratospheric
ozone layer depletion, it is
important to take the
necessary precautions to
protect your eyes from
being  damaged.
Potential Effects of UV Radiation

on Eyes

UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial UV rays, can
damage the eye, affecting surface tissues and internal structures, such as
the cornea and lens.

Long-term exposure to UV radiation can lead to cataracts, skin cancer
around the eyelids, and other eye disorders.

In the short-term, excessive exposure to UV radiation from daily
activities, including reflections off of snow, pavement, and other
surfaces, can bum the front surface of the eye, similar to a sunburn
on the skin.

The cumulative effects of spending long hours in the sun without
adequate eye protection can increase the likelihood of developing the
following eye disorders

#  Cataracts,: A clouding of the eyes lens that can blur vision.
*  Snow Blindness (photokeratitis): A day at the beach without
   sunglasses; reflections off of snow, water, or concrete; or exposure to
   artificial light sources such as tanning beds, can cause a
     temporary but painful burn to the cornea of the eye.
                             ,CULA
        Pterygium: An abnormal, but usually non-cancerous, growth in
        the corner of the eye. It can grow over the cornea, partially
        blocking vision, and may require surgery to be removed.

        Skin Cancer around the Eyelids: Basal cell carcinoma is the most
        common type of skin cancer to affect the eyelids. In most
        cases, lesions occur on the lower lid, but they can occur any-
        where on the eyelids, in the comers of the eye, under the
        eyebrows, and on adjacent areas of the face.
                           RETINA
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  EPA's  SunWise Program:
  Educating Youth About
  Sun  Safety

  The SunWise Program is an environmental
  and health education program that aims to
  teach people how to protect themselves from
  overexposure to the sun. The school element of
  the program uses classroom, school, and
  community components to develop sustained
  sun-safe behaviors in children. Additional
  partnerships with local broadcast meteorologists,
  science centers, children's museums, and
  health experts provide numerous opportunities
  to deliver the SunWise
  message to youth,
  their care givers, and
  the general public. For more
  information about SunWise
  and how you can participate,
  please visit
  .


  SunWise-7 Sv
  a program ihal radiates good ideas
  A Partnership Ptogrtm at Hie U.S- environmental Protection Agwcy
       www.epa.gov/sunwise
  id  You Know....

   20,5 million Americans have cataracts.
   The economic costs of visual disorders and
   disabilities in the United States in 2003 was
   estimated to be $68 billion
Source: National Eye Institute, U.S. National Institutes of
Health 

Preventive  Measures  for Eye
Protection

Protect your eyes from UV exposure by wearing
sunglasses that properly block UV-A and UV-B rays.
Sunglasses should block 99-100 percent of UV-A
and UV-B from reaching your eyes, so look for
manufacturer labels that indicate UV protective
lenses  Wrap-around sunglasses are preferable
because they keep UV rays from reaching the eyes.
Additionally, a wide-brimmed hat offers some degree of
eye protection, blocking UV rays from entering the eyes
from the sides or above the sunglasses.


Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does my eye color or skin color affect my risk for eye
  damage from UV radiation?

A: No. All people, regardless of their eye or skin color, are
  susceptible to eye damage from UV radiation.

Q; What should I look for when choosing a pair of sun-
  glasses?

A: No matter what sunglass styles or options you choose,
  you should insist that your sunglasses;

  » Block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and
     UV-B radiation.

  * Are perfectly matched in color and are free of
     distortion and imperfection.

Q: Do 1 have to buy expensive sunglasses to ensure that 1
  am being protected from UV radiation?

A: As long as the label says that the glasses provide
  UV-A and UV-B protection, price should not be a
  deciding factor.

For more information contact:

The American Optometric Association 

The American Academy of Opthalmology 

The National Eye Institute

    REMEMBER!!
    Exposure to L)¥ radiation has GumiilatSvB
    effects on the eyes, with damage
    today leading to eye problems
    tomorrow.
    PROTECT YOUR EYES
    AND  SIGHT,,,
    WEAR  SUNGLASSE

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