Aloha! I am still island hopping around Hawaii with my family (in case you didn’t know from all of my Instagram posts) and thought this was the perfect time to talk about protecting our eyes from the sun.
We see so much these days about using sunscreen to protect our skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays but have you ever stopped to think about protecting your eyes from the sun? Me either! I never really thought about it at all to be honest. I recently listened in on a Webinar from the Vision Council to promote National Sunglasses Day on June 27th. I learned some interesting facts I’d like to share.
I did not know that all sunglasses did not provide UVA and UVB protection. This is really important information to find out. I’ve looked up my glasses to make sure that they do offer the protection I am looking for. I need to examine my kids glasses to make sure that their eyes are protected as well.
I found this fascinating really! I never thought that my eyes or my kids eyes could sustain sun damage from not wearing sunglasses. It makes sense though!
What I really found interesting was the following slide. It appears that adults are wearing glasses while driving or going to the pool but most do not wear them while running, biking or gardening. I was so surprised by this! Runner, bikers and outdoor exercisers were the group I expected to wear sunglasses.
As exercise enthusiasts, we pay so much attention to our skin care, our shoes, our apparel and our training plans but we apparently are neglecting our eye health.
I always have worn sunglasses while biking and running mostly because I wear contacts and they keep the pollen out. Sometimes when I am biking, bugs and things are flying around and no one wants that near their eyes.
National Sunglasses Day is coming up June 27th and it’s a great time to evaluate your eye care habits and a great reminder to protect them.
Have you ever thought about your eye health? Do you regularly wear sunglasses?
(I received a little sun protection swag bag in exchange for this post including a pair of Optic Nerve glasses, however all opinions are my own. The information above was provided from a webinar sponsored by The Vision Council You can find more information on eye health and the protection eyeglasses offer here. )
Love this!! I was just talking about this topic today and how many children I see at the beach without sunglasses. Such great info!! Thank you for sharing and Aloha! xx
Thanks! I never really thought about sun damage to the eyes before this!
I really need to start wearing sunglasses when I run. I lost a pair last yr that I run with and haven’t replaced them. I only wear my Jackie O ones for driving and laying out.
I always wear them when I bike and run mostly bc they keep the bugs and debris out of my eyes. Now I have more reasons to wear them
Yes, I am constantly surprised how few runners wear sunglasses. If it’s cold I don’t because they fog up & sometimes when it rains, but otherwise, as you can see from my running pictures, I’m always in them.
My vision is bad enough – I want to protect it as much as possible!
I always wear them while running too also because it keeps the dust and pollen out of my contacts.
I finally got new prescription sunglasses so I can wear them running – now I just need to get back to running!
You will! I know it’s hard believe me be patient and let it heal
I always wear sunglasses when I’m running. I’m better about my eye spf than I am about my skin spf sometimes!
I am too actually just didn’t realize it!
My eyes are really sensitive, so I always wear them. If I run without them my eyes water like crazy!
Me too and they keep the pollen out!
I never used to wear sunglasses until I started running and now I have a pair with me at all times! 🙂
Me too helps keep the pollen out too
I regularly wear sunglasses now and am actually looking for new ones. My current ones are really scratched up and are also 6 years old. When I do run outside, I have them with me, not only because I’m sensitive to strong sun, but it keeps the pollen out.
Yes me too the pollen really bothers me when I run and bike
Great post Deborah! My aunt was a sun worshipper for years and always wore sunglasses that didn’t offer protection from both. She has horrible vision now at the age of 60!! I even wear sunglasses when it’s overcast sometimes, or on planes when people leave the shades open because I have sensitive eyes. 🙂 Jill
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I never thought about on a plane but makes sense too. Bright idea!
I always wear sunglasses for running and yard work unless i’m wearing a visor. They are a must at the pool too. I need to get on my kids to wear them and get emerson the eyeglasses that change to sunglasses.
I know we are so vigilant about sunscreen for the kids and can easily overlook the the eyes
Man, there’s a nation day for everything! But yes, sunglasses are so so so important! I wear sunscreen everyday and sunglasses whenever I’m outdoors for more than a second, especially when running. I didn’t know all these facts about sunglasses, though! I need to look up if mine actually have UVA/UVB protection!
I didn’t know either!
Great awareness post!!!
I have really jumped on the sunglasses bandwagon the past year. Learning that non cureable form of Macular Degeneration runs in my family and having my dad just diagnosed with it, and he was told to tell his children what to do to prolong possibly getting it. It’s become a fear of mine to loose my sight, and one of the things that helps prolong it is wearing a good pair of sunglasses anytime I am outside.
Oh wow yes so important. We pay a lot of attention to sunscreen for our body and can easily overlook our wyes
It’s so funny you ask this because I was just thinking how terrible it is to run with surpasses on but how I can barely see without them from squinting. I think I need to find a more functional pair!
Yes you do! Good excuse now that you know how important it is
So many national SOMETHING days…how does anyone keep track?? I wear transitions lenses…don’t remember their UVA/UVB status. I asked for them to be as dark as legally allowed but the sun still blinds me some days.
I e never tried those maybe I should! There are a lot of National days
My eyes are extremely light sensitive, so I don’t go anywhere without my sunglasses. Thankfully both my sunglasses and contact lenses have UV protection in them as well.
That’s a good point I need to check my contacts. The seminar I listened to mentioned that since contacts only cover a small part of your eye we don’t really have full protection
Great information, and happy National Sunglasses Day early! I have very light eyes and the sun bothers them terribly, so I wear Oakleys with both UVA and UVB protection. I don’t even go to my mailbox without my sunglasses. It was pouring rain when I left for my final leg at Saturday’s Ragnar Trail run and I left my sunglasses behind. Shortly after my race started the sun came out and I was miserable. Fortunately, I had on a visor and we were in the woods so that helped some, but not enough.
I love my Oakley glasses also. I wear them even when it is cloudy too
I enjoyed this webinar too! I’ll be posting mine on Friday!
Oh good looking forward to “seeing” your post too
My eyes are very sensitive to the sun so I always wear sunglasses… even when it doesn’t feel that sunny outside 🙂 Have fun in Hawaii!!
Thanks I am having a blast! I wear mine even when it is close as well
I need tpo get better about wearing sunglasses when I run! Thanks for the useful info!
Your welcome! It’s easy to forget
It took me a while to wear sunglasses while I was out and about…I would only wear them while running! Thanks for this information…it’s really important!
It is! Easy to overlook too
I wear sunglasses all of the time, and I actually do look for the UVA/UVB protection in them!! I most definitely wear them running too!
I know so important!
great post! I don’t think there is a part of our body that can take the sun’s rays- knowledge is power! Aloha!
I didn’t know that the tint of the glasses didn’t matter, as far as UV coverage! Great post, Deborah. Hope you’re having a fantastic time!
I am having a great time! I learned a lot from the webinar as well.
Thanks for sharing friend!