Sun Protection

You slather your skin with sunscreen before heading out for a day outdoors. But do you think about your eyes? Though most of us understand the importance of protecting our skin from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays, most Americans still don't know that exposing their eyes to the sun's UVA and UVB rays can be just as damaging.

The effects of UV damage are cumulative. In fact, every year 3.2 million people go blind from eye conditions caused by prolonged exposure to UV.

However, considering that 80 percent of a person's lifetime exposure to UV occurs by age 18, wearing high quality sunwear that blocks 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays is just as important for kids as adults.

So what can you do?

Ask your eyecare provider which solution is best for you and your child. .