Sunglasses are crucial for protecting your eyes

Experts at The Vision Council say ultraviolet radiation from the sun can damage your eyes if you don't wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.

Transcript

00:00Sunglasses are not just a summertime style statement.

00:03A good pair of shades can protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun

00:08and the harsh impacts from the weather all year long.

00:12UV rays are present even when it's overcast, even in the wintertime.

00:17As little as 100 seconds of direct sun exposure can result in permanent retinal damage.

00:23Yet 13% of adults report they never wear sunglasses.

00:27Ashley Mills and the Vision Council are on a mission to change that.

00:32UV is always there and it can be really damaging to your vision health.

00:37It can cause conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.

00:42The leading advocate for the optical industry says the risk grows the more time you spend outdoors without sunglasses.

00:49You're still being impacted but you won't notice it maybe that day like you would with a sunburn.

00:54A lot of times the UV damage is cumulative and you won't notice it until you go to an eye doctor later in your life

01:01and you find out that you actually have a lot of sun damage to your eyes because you weren't protected earlier on.

01:07Ultraviolet rays can penetrate through clouds.

01:10Surfaces like water, sand, even snow can reflect UV rays,

01:15almost doubling the intensity of exposure to unprotected eyes.

01:19Think about your eyes as frequently as you're checking the weather.

01:23AccuWeather makes it easy to plan ahead and protect your eye health with the AccuLumen Brightness Index.

01:30Available for free on the AccuWeather app and AccuWeather.com.

01:35It's a one-of-its-kind index with an easy way to characterize the brightness of the day.

01:40The AccuLumen Brightness Index is a tremendous tool that everyone should use because it empowers them with data

01:47to understand the elements outside and make great decisions about how to protect their vision health.

01:52Spending some time in the sun safely can be good for our health.

01:56UV exposure boosts vitamin D production and can even help reduce stress.

02:01Just like a good sunscreen for your skin, the experts say make sure your sunglasses have 100% UVA and UVB protection

02:09to help protect your eyes and preserve your vision.

02:13Reporting in New York City, for AccuWeather, I'm Bill Waddell.