Daily Medical Advices

The sun can be very damaging to our eyes as it can cause severe damage to the vision. The deterioration of the ozone layer increases the solar incidence and the risk of diseases such as cataracts, which cause about 17 million cases of blindness per year in the World Health Organization. Sunglasses with appropriate filters to protect us and help prevent, but they are of poor quality may worsen the harmful effects of ultraviolet (UV).

The sun does not always cause the same effects. In summer, for example, is more dangerous. The altitude may also influence because we have less atmosphere above us to protect us. If there’s snow, the risk increases by 90% because the reflected rays and radiation increases as the water or sand, to a lesser extent. It is also determining the time of day, being worse the central hours. And we must take into account that the clouds let through the ultraviolet rays, so that there is still risk. Finally it should be borne in mind that children are always particularly exposed to these risks.

Depending upon the type of activity that we will do we have to choose sunglasses or other, not forgetting the children, as we have seen, are at greater risk, to avoid effects of the sun in his eyes as headaches, conjunctivitis or, ultimately, the development of cataracts. Only 20% of sunglasses sold meet the requirements to ensure effective protection.

In Spain, legislation regulated in Royal Decreto/92 dictates the standards for sunglasses: they have high protection against UVA and UVB, should have no rough edges or alive and must be optically neutral. The glasses must be properly labeled with the name, address of the manufacturer, instructions for use, cleaning and storage, and not be fooled: they are darker glasses does not mean that filter harmful rays better.

Prevention is easy: buy sunglasses in specialized centers, matching the type of spectacles that we will use him and use them whenever we are exposed to sunlight.