MyEyeDr. Offers 10 Quick Tips for Summer Eye Care

VIENNA, Va., May 22, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- For many the Memorial Day Weekend marks the official start of summer. In the spirit of the season, MyEyeDr., a full-service vision healthcare company providing comprehensive eye exams along with dispensing prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses, offers 10 quick tips for summer eye care to educate consumers on the importance of ultraviolet (UV) protection for their eyes to prevent long-term damage and visual impairment.

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1. Evaluate Ultra Violet Projection not Price: 
   Price is not the best predictor as to how well sunglass lenses block ultraviolet light. Label should state that the lenses block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.
2. Sunglasses Without UV Protection Can Be Dangerous: 
   Dark lens tints cause pupils to open wider allowing more UV rays to enter the eye, which is regarded as more dangerous than not wearing sunglasses at all.
3. Encourage Children to Wear Sunglasses: 
   Children's eyes need sun protection just as adult's eyes do.
4. Monitor UV Index: 
   The UV Index provides a daily estimate of solar UV intensity to prevent overexposure to the sun's harmful rays that can cause damage to both your skin and eyes.
5. Increase Quality and Quantity of Sunglass Use with Altitude: 
   The altitude-related increase in UV exposure is approximately 4 to 5 percent for every 1,000 feet ascended.
6. Don't Stare at the Sun: 
   Even if wearing sunglasses, staring at the sun can cause damage to the retinas.
7. Wear Sunglasses Even on Hazy Days: 
   Haze and clouds don't prevent UV rays from reaching your eyes. UV is invisible radiation, not visible light.
8. Select Lens Tint Based on Use:  
   Dark tints don't necessarily provide better protection. It is the UV absorption ability of the lens that matters, not the tint. 
9. Wear Sunglasses with Contacts: 
   UV-blocking contacts protect only the parts of the eye that are directly behind the contacts. Surrounding eye tissue also needs protection.
10. Schedule Annual Eye Exam: 
    The best way to monitor eye health and keep up-to-date on sunglass technology and styles is to schedule a comprehensive eye exam with a professional optometrist.

Although there are many factors that contribute to a person's overall vision health, studies show that these tips will help reduce exposure to ultraviolet light, a leading contributor to ocular complications such as photokeratitis or "snow blindness"; cataracts; macular degeneration; and even cancer.  

Founded in 2001, MyEyeDr. is a privately owned and operated company with 39 store locations in Washington, DC, Maryland and Virginia.  For more information about MyEyeDr., visit www.myeyedr.com or follow on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE MyEyeDr.