Ultraviolet light can damage eyes

    As the summer draws near and temperatures rise, people will spend more time enjoying the great outdoors. Dr. Ben Williams of Modern Eye Care in Washington wants those people to protect their eyes from the sun?s ultraviolet light.

    ?The sun can damage the eyes the same way it damages your skin,? said Williams. ?Repeated exposure can cause cancer to the eyelids or even the surface of the eye itself.?

    Ultraviolet light from the sun can cause cataracts and macular degeneration, which is damage to the center of the retina. Williams said these two problems are often seen in the older generation, but he said he now sees signs they are occurring in younger folks as well. Unfortunately, he said today?s youth will face even more optical issues in the years to come.

    ?It is actually more important for children to protect their eyes than older adults,? said Williams. ?Children spend more time outside, and studies have shown our ozone layer is blocking less of the harmful UV light from the sun. Children today are repeatedly exposed and by the time they are adults they will have absorbed more harmful rays of UV radiation throughout their lifetime than adults living today.?

For more, see our April 15 print edition.