Employers note: UV protection is vital for your outdoor workforce. May is UV Awareness Month, and my partners at VisionCare Associates, PC [Drs. Lee Rigel and Cheryl Vincent-Riemer] and I want business owners to take notice.  Many of your employees work in conditions that require eye protection.

Owning sunglasses is critical to maintaining long-term eye health. As head of VisionCare’s Optical Team, I strive to ensure both safety and quality are priorities when selecting new sunglasses to have available for patients.

If you spend any time outdoors, drive during the hours the sun is out or take medications that increase your sensitivity to UV radiation, you are someone who is at higher risk of UV radiation damage to your eyes and the skin surrounding your eyes. If you have fair skin and/or light-colored eyes, you are more susceptible to damage than dark-complected, dark-eyed individuals.

The effects of UV radiation are cumulative; long-term exposure to UV radiation may increase your chances of developing macular degeneration and/or speed up the progression of cataracts, not to mention creating squint lines around the eyes.

The magnitude of lens technology is astounding! Several factors are key when determining if you’re fully protected and at an optimum level for your vision needs.

Finding sunglasses to fit your personal and workplace needs is important. Ask your eye doctor about polarization, about ensuring 99 to100 percent of both types of UV radiation are blocked, about screening out at least 75 percent and up to 90 percent of visible light,  and finally about the simple difference between gray and brown lenses.

We believe in hands-on prescribing. We send our patients outside with different lens types so they can experience the options; gray lenses hold colors true and brown lenses add a little yellow to the overall view. I encourage you to ask questions, research lenses, share your needs with your doctor and be aware of the hazards of UV radiation.

We’ve all had it drilled into our heads about the dangers of UV radiation to our skin. You put sunscreen on your face, why not put sunglasses on your eyes? Take your shopping seriously, especially if you fall into a higher risk category for damage as most Michiganians do!

		Sarah Knapp, OD, FAAO