Sun Exposure May Rob Sight

May 11, 2004

Your skin isn't the only thing you have to worry about when you're out in the summer sun. According to new research, your eyes need protection from ultraviolet rays, too.

A new study, presented in the May issue of The Archives of Ophthalmology, reports that people who spend a lot of time in the summer sun during their teens, 20s, 30s and early 40s are twice as likely to develop an early form
of macular degeneration - the leading cause of vision loss in older people - than people who stayed out of the sun. Although they are unsure of the exact connection, researchers conducting the Beaver Dam Eye Study believe that too much sun exposure leads to retinal deposits often associated with macular
degeneration.

The good news is that shielding the eyes with sunglasses or wide-brimmed hats at least half of the time reduces the risk of developing deposits on
the retina by 50 percent. These protective measures make a significant difference in saving the sight of sun lovers.

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