The sunshine-filled days of summer are here and many of us are diligently slathering on sunscreen to protect our skin from sun damage. But sunscreen can’t protect everything - the eyes, for example.
Eyelid skin is extremely thin and allowing too much ultraviolet (UV) through can cause a number of eye problems, including cataracts and several kinds of cancer. The best defense: a good pair of sunglasses.
“When shopping for sunglasses, people tend to focus more on appearance rather than UV protection. But it’s possible to find sunglasses that look great and protect the eyes from sun damage,” said Sandy T. Feldman, MD, a well-known ophthalmologist based in San Diego.
UV damage has been found to cause skin cancers of the eyelid, including basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Basal cell carcinomas make up about 90 percent of all eyelid cancers. Unlike basal cell carcinomas elsewhere on the body, which rarely spread, basal cell carcinomas on the eyelids can spread to the eye and face.
“We also tend to protect ourselves from the sun only during the summer, but it’s something to be cautious of all year long,” Dr. Feldman advised. “So be sure to wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat whenever you go outside, no matter what the season.”
Six tips for purchasing sunglasses:
“The good news is, when diagnosed early, eyelid cancers usually respond well to treatment,” Dr. Feldman said. “These cancers, as well as cataracts and other eye conditions caused by too much UV exposure, can often be found by your doctor during a routine eye exam. This is why it’s very important to have your eyes checked every year.”
Sandy T. Feldman, MD is the Medical Director of Clearview Eye & Laser Medical Center - voted best LASIK center in San Diego by CityBeat Magazine in 2013 - and has successfully performed more than 20,000 refractive procedures. Her numerous awards include “Top Doc San Diego” and the Goldline Award, an honor granted to only 10 laser eye care providers in the U.S. each year, and she has been profiled in Forbes, Newsweek, and other respected publications. Dr. Feldman is a fellow of the prestigious American College of Ophthalmic Surgeons, as well as a member of the American Academy of Ophthalmology and the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery. For more information, please visit clearvieweyes.com.
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