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Protecting your Eyes from UV Rays

  • Staff Writer
  • Jul 1
  • 2 min read

How do I protect my eyes? Can UV rays damage my eyes? What do UV rays do to eyes?

A young woman in a bright green sweatshirt and sunglasses captures a beachside selfie with a stunning sunset view as her backdrop.
A young woman in a bright green sweatshirt and sunglasses captures a beachside selfie with a stunning sunset view as her backdrop.

Can UV rays damage my eyes? 

Yes. UV rays can be incredibly damaging to your eyes. We usually think of UV rays when it comes to sunburns, but the skin isn’t the only part of your body at risk.


UV light can cause all sorts of eye issues, ranging from curable to permanent. Some of the most common risks include: 

Issue

Description

Damage Risk

Pinguecula

An irritation of the eye in the  white part of the eye.

Low - treatable, but can affect your tears if untreated

Pterygium

Sometimes called “Surfer’s Eye’ - a growth that can cover the entire eye.

Medium/Low - treatable, but can quickly grow in size and risk further damage

Cataract

A cloudy area in your eye lens.

Medium/High - treatable, but can require surgery and if untreated, can make your vision blurry or grey

Cancer

A cancer of the eyelid

High - all cancers should be treated as extremely high risk even if some are curable.

How do I protect my eyes from UV rays?

You can’t put sunscreen on your eyes, so how do you protect them from harmful rays?


The two best ways to protect your eyes on sunny days are:

  1. Wear sunglasses and/or a hat to keep the sun out of your eyes.

  2. Limit your time in direct sunlight with your eyes open. This is especially important at the beach where the light can reflect off the water and back into your eyes.


What are the best sunglasses to protect eyes from UV rays?

Any sunglasses are better than no sunglasses, but if you’re looking for the best protection, you’ll want to keep the following factors in mind:


  1. Lens: Make sure your sunglasses have a UV400 rating. Sometimes, these are also called UV-blocking lenses.

  2. Size: Some sunglasses look stylish, but don’t protect your eyes. Protective sunglasses will fit tight to your face.

  3. Your activities: Not all activities in the sun come with the same risks. If you’re going to be around a lot of reflective surfaces like glass, water, or snow, you might want to consider Polarized Lenses for extra protection.


To check your eyes and protect your summer, make an appointment with a SAC Health provider at sachealth.org/patients.

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