What You Need When Working Outdoors

In the weeks following the purchase of our first home, my new husband and I have discovered one of the “joys” of homeownership: yard work. Our house has new paint and flooring inside, but the outside needed some tender loving care.

Before we headed outside to tackle the work we lathered up with sunscreen …but too often that’s where people stop. That’s when I was reminded of the importance of wearing sunglasses. Indiana eye care doctors warn that extended exposure to UV light can cause significant damage to your eyes.

There are several serious eye diseases caused by too much UV exposure. Cataracts causes blurred vision and affects one in six Americans over age 40. Prevent Blindness America estimates that 20% of cataract cases are caused by extended UV exposure. Macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in America, results from damage to the retina and destroys central vision.

A common condition seen by Indianapolis optometrists is photokeratitis or sunburn of the eye. This is a temporary but painful burn that causes blurred vision and short-term blindness.

For all your outdoor activities, Dr. Tavel recommends the best in UV protection: Purifier® polarized sunglasses. These are the only lenses that actually eliminate glare. Other sunglasses only color it and try to lessen its impact with color. With Purifier® sunglasses objects are sharper and more distinct and colors are brighter and more alive. Purifier® lenses block 99% of all harmful UV rays!

So when you’re outside tackling yard work, make sure you have the right sunglasses …and don’t forget a hat for added UV protection!