UV Awareness Month

Protect Your Vision: UV Safety Awareness Month

houseEmily Williamson Jul 18, 2025

July is UV Safety Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to talk about how ultraviolet (UV) light affects eye health and what you can do to protect your vision all year long.

Why UV Protection Matters for Your Eyes

Just like your skin, your eyes can suffer from too much exposure to UV rays. Both UV-A and UV-B rays can cause short-term and long-term damage to your eyes. Over time, this exposure can contribute to several eye conditions, including: • Photokeratitis which is a painful sunburn on the cornea • Cataracts • Macular degeneration • Pterygium, a growth on the white of the eye • Eyelid cancer

Even on cloudy days, UV rays still reach your eyes. That is why daily protection is so important, not just when you are at the beach or outside during the summer.

6 Simple Steps to Protect Your Eyes from UV Damage

  1. Wear UV-Blocking Sunglasses Choose sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Look for labels that say “UV400” or “100 percent UV protection.” Wraparound styles offer even better protection by blocking rays that enter from the sides.
  2. Don’t Skip the Shades on Cloudy Days UV rays can penetrate clouds. Make sunglasses a habit every day, no matter the weather.
  3. Add a Wide-Brimmed Hat Wearing a hat with at least a 3-inch brim can significantly reduce UV exposure by shading your eyes and eyelids.
  4. Consider UV-Blocking Contact Lenses Some contact lenses have built-in UV protection. These can be a helpful addition to your sun protection routine, but they should not replace sunglasses.
  5. Protect Children’s Eyes Too Kids are especially vulnerable to UV damage. Make sure they wear hats and sunglasses when outside, just like adults.
  6. Keep Up with Regular Eye Exams Annual eye exams help detect early signs of UV-related conditions. Your eye care provider can also recommend the best protective eyewear for your lifestyle.

Protecting Your Eyes is a Year-Round Priority UV damage adds up over time. By making small choices every day like wearing sunglasses and hats you can protect your eyes and preserve your vision for years to come.

At TriaVision, we are committed to helping our patients stay on top of their eye health. If you have questions about UV protection or need help selecting the right sunglasses or contacts, our team is here to help.

Call or text us today at 833-SEE-TRIA to schedule your next appointment.