CHICAGO, April 27, 2021 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Because
extended exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause damage to the
eyes, Prevent Blindness, the nation's oldest eye health and safety
organization, has declared May as Ultraviolet Awareness Month. The
group seeks to educate the public on the increased risk of
everything from "corneal sunburns" (photokeratitis) to diseases
such as cataract and eye cancers.
Prevent Blindness offers a variety of free resources on UV
protection to keep vision healthy, including fact sheets and a
dedicated webpage at: PreventBlindness.org/sun-and-vision.
Shareable infographics on sun safety are also available.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), many
factors determine the amount of UV exposure including:
- Geography- UV rays are strongest in areas close to the
equator.
- Altitude- Higher altitudes have greater UV exposure because
there is less atmosphere to absorb UV rays.
- Time of year- The sun's angle in relation to the Earth varies
according to season. During the summer months the sun's rays hit
the earth at a steeper angle, resulting in a greater amount of UV
radiation.
- Time of day- UV is most intense at noon when the sun is at its
highest point in the sky. Especially in the summer months, it is a
good idea to remain indoors during the peak sun hours of
10am to 4pm.
- Weather conditions- Even under cloud cover it is possible to
damage your skin and eyes, and cause long-term damage.
- Reflection- Surfaces such as snow, sand, pavement, grass, or
water can reflect much of the UV radiation that reaches them.
Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses with a brimmed hat is the best
protection against UV rays. Prevent Blindness recommends choosing
sunglasses for children, adults and senior citizens that:
- reduce glare
- filter out 99-100% of UV rays
- are comfortable to wear
- do not distort colors
"No matter the weather, it's important to always wear
UV-blocking eyewear when we are outdoors to help protect our eyes
and save our sight for years to come," said Jeff Todd, president and CEO of Prevent
Blindness.
For more information on UV eye protection, please visit the
Prevent Blindness dedicated Web page at
PreventBlindness.org/sun-and-vision, or call (800) 331-2020.
About Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading
volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting
blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of
vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of
people each year through public and professional education,
advocacy, certified vision screening and training, community and
patient service programs and research. These services are made
possible through the generous support of the American public.
Together with a network of affiliates, Prevent Blindness is
committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more
information, visit us at preventblindness.org, and follow us on
Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and LinkedIn.
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Media Contact
Sarah Hecker, Prevent Blindness,
312.363.6035, shecker@preventblindness.org
Twitter
SOURCE Prevent Blindness