Blog Hero

UV & You: How Ultraviolet Light Affects Your Eyes

You know you should wear sunglasses for your eyes and you know not to look directly at the sun. But do you know why? Every day, you’re warned against the dangers of UV light. But do you know what that means?
Before you can protect yourself, you first need to understand the danger and what protective options are available to you.

What is UV Light

Everything your eye sees is light. Colour, for example, only appears the way it does due to the cells in your eyes being programmed to detect certain wavelengths (or colours) of light. There is also, however, an entire spectrum of light that our eyes can’t detect. This spectrum is called ultraviolet or UV light, and it’s responsible for products that glow under blacklights, sunburns, and a whole variety of things in between.
UV light is more than just light. It is actually electromagnetic radiation. And much like other forms of electromagnetic radiation (like x-rays and gamma rays), too much exposure can be harmful to the body.

Blue Light

Blue light is a particular wavelength of UV light, frequently emitted by laptops, tablets, touch-screen phones, and other digital devices. This type of light has a tendency to scatter, making it difficult for your eyes to focus and interpret. As a result, the eye has to work overtime and can become fatigued. This is a contributing factor to what is known as digital eye strain.

Mitigating Blue Light With Computer Glasses

There is now a special coating available, which can be applied to lenses. This coating filters out blue light, meaning the eyes don’t have to work as hard and can work longer without experiencing fatigue.

Photokeratitis

A sunburn on your skin is bad. But have you ever experienced sunburned eyes? Photokeratitis (more commonly known as snow blindness) occurs when your eyes are exposed to concentrated UV light without any protection. This commonly occurs in the presence of snow, white sand, or water, as these reflective surfaces also tend to magnify UV light. Though temporary, snow blindness tends to be quite painful and can leave the patient unable to see for hours afterwards.

Avoiding Photokeratitis

The best way to avoid snow blindness is to protect your eyes. Sunglasses with 100% UV protection will shield your eyes from the harmful effects of UV rays, while still allowing you to see clearly and enjoy your day.

The Stylish Way to Protect Your Eyes

At Keswick Family Eye Care, we’re proud to offer over 240 pairs of sunglasses; all of which give you 100% UV protection. We carry some of the top sunglass names in the world; including Oakley, Ray Bans, and Maui Jim. Browse our selection of amazing brands.

Written by Dr. Heather Cowie

More Articles By Dr. Heather Cowie

Visit Our Location

We are located just off Main St, in the Towerlane Shopping Centre. There is plenty of parking out front, and our team looks forward to welcoming you!

girl wearing glasses smiling

Our Address

  • 705 Main St S, Suite 150
  • Airdrie, AB T4B 3M2

Contact Information

Book Your Appointment

Check Out Our Blog

Explore expert advice, practical tips, and the latest research on maintaining eye health, preventing diseases, and more in our blog!

Feeling The Love

instagram facebook facebook2 pinterest twitter google-plus google linkedin2 yelp youtube phone location calendar share2 link star-full star star-half chevron-right chevron-left chevron-down chevron-up envelope fax