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Sun Safety for Your Eyes: Why UV Protection Matters in Florida

Sun Safety for Your Eyes

With Florida’s intense year round sunshine, it is easy to damage your eyes without proper protection. Your eyes are highly sensitive to UV rays, which means the risk of UV exposure can be serious if left unprotected. The good news is that UV related damage is preventable with the right precautions. 

If you think you may be experiencing UV damage or want to invest in stronger long term protection, seeing an eye specialist in Tampa like Florida Eye Center can help you stay safe while enjoying the sunshine.

The Risks of Long Term UV Exposure

When people go outside, they might skip wearing protection such as strong UV blocking sunglasses or hats, either because they do not think they will be out long enough to risk damage, they do not like the style, or they do not see the need to invest in proper UV protection. However, any optometrist in Tampa will tell you that long term exposure is serious and can lead to several risks, including:

  • Cataracts
    • Macular degeneration
    • Photokeratitis, which is a sunburned cornea
    • Skin cancer around the eyelids

These are only a few examples. Without proper protection, even more severe outcomes like vision loss are possible. If you do not currently use strong UV protection, visiting an eye specialist in Tampa is an important step to protect your eyes now and reduce your risk from Florida’s intense sun over time.

How to Protect Your Eyes

There are many effective ways to keep your eyes protected from Florida’s strong UV rays. Wearing sunglasses is one of the best options, but choosing the right pair is essential for proper protection. To make sure your sunglasses protect your eyes and not just add style, look for lenses labeled 100% UVA/UVB protection.

Choosing wraparound or large frames is also a smart way to get stronger coverage. In addition to sunglasses, wearing wide brimmed hats when outdoors adds another layer of protection and helps reduce UV exposure from above.

If you need prescription lenses or transition lenses, Florida Eye Center can help with prescription sunglasses and transition options that keep your eyes protected while still matching your personal style.

Soak in the Sun Safely With Florida Eye Center

Your vision is a delicate part of your health and something that should never be taken lightly. Florida’s sun might not seem dangerous at first, but long term exposure brings too many risks to ignore. Booking a comprehensive eye exam at Florida Eye Center with an optometrist in Tampa or Land O’ Lakes is an important step to protect your vision and keep your eye health strong year round.

Request an appointment with an optometrist in Tampa today to stay on top of your eye health and maintain a healthy relationship with the sun year round.

 

Disclaimer: The contents of this website are for general educational purposes only. All content and media on the Florida Eye Center website does not constitute professional medical advice nor is the information intended to replace the services provided by the medical professionals at Florida Eye Center or other qualified medical professionals. If you believe you are having a medical emergency, call 911 immediately.

The content, views, and opinions communicated on this website do not represent the views of Florida Eye Center. Reliance on any information provided by this website is solely at your own risk. Although this website contains links to other medical websites, this is strictly for informational purposes. Florida Eye Center is not responsible nor do they approve of the content featured on any third-party linked websites referenced on this website

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