Wellness Advisor
Ol' Man Winter is wearing shades - and so should you

With all the protective garb necessary to fight the snow's chill, it seems as though preparing to go outside for a brief excursion can be of marathon proportions. Often overlooked in the rush to stay warm, however, is eye safety. Even during the spring ski season as the sun comes out from hiding, there is often a lack of awareness of the importance of protective eyewear when out on the snow.

We go to great lengths to protect our eyes during those hot summer months when the sun is closest to the earth. Do the same precautions apply during winter months when temperatures drop?

"You bet," says Steve Looysen, O.D., a VSP network doctor from North Dakota. "We often forget about reflected light. Light reflected off snow and ice can exacerbate the harmful effects of ultraviolet light."

Consider that the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can be as strong on a mountaintop in winter as they are at the beach in summer. And as the spring skiing season gets under way, the UV rays are only getting stronger. For example, spending one hour on the slopes at lower elevations in Vail, Co., in December is equal in sun exposure to spending one hour on the beach in New York in June. And the sun exposure at the very top of Vail's mountains is equal to being in the Caribbean islands in the summer.

Can UV radiation hurt our eyes?
Yes. More and more scientific evidence shows that long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation can damage our eyes. Ultraviolet radiation may contribute to the development of various eye disorders, such as macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among older Americans, and cataracts, a major cause of visual impairment and blindness around the world.

What can we do to protect our eyes?
UV-absorbing eyewear provides the greatest protection from the sun's damaging rays. According to Dr. Looysen, a good quality pair of polarized sunglasses that selectively block the sun's harmful UV rays offer the best protection and maximize your vision. "They are like 'sunscreen' for your eyes!"

Don't be fooled by Old Man Winter's chilly temperatures and overcast days. A good rule of thumb year-round: If you plan to be outdoors and believe you need sunscreen at any time throughout the year, your eye protection shouldn't be too far away.

For more information or assistance with appropriate winter eye safety, contact your VSP network doctor.