Studies reveal that sunglasses and baseball caps cannot protect eyes from sun damage, as much as UV-blocking contact lenses do. UV-blocking lenses can reduce or eliminate the effects of the sun's harmful UV radiation.
Researchers studied the prevention of ultra-violet rays induced damage to the anterior segment using Class I UV absorbing hydrogel contact lenses. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to harmful changes in the cornea, conjunctiva and lens, including cataracts, the most common cause of visual impairment around the globe. According to the researchers, some estimates say that by the year 2050, there will be 167,000 to 830,000 more cases of cataracts.
But people are generally unaware of when their eyes are at greatest risk for damage from UV exposure, say vision researchers and ophthalmologists. The latest research involving UV-absorbing contact lenses can provide another option for protection against the detrimental changes caused by UV. The study, conducted on rabbits, showed that animals who wore UV-absorbing contact lenses (Senofilcon A) were not affected by the UV exposure.
The researchers also say that wearing sunglasses or hats may not provide enough protection from the sun; adding adequate UV protection to contact lenses may be a practical solution to the problems caused by too much exposure. However, this study focuses exclusively on acute UV exposure and further long-term studies are needed to determine the efficiency of wearing the UV-absorbing contacts over a longer time period. Not all contact lenses offer UV protection, and those that do, don’t provide similar absorption levels.
This research will help patients and doctors consider appropriate UV-blocking contact lenses for those who need vision correction, to fill in some of the UV blocking gaps left by more traditional means. The study greatly supports the use of UV-absorbing contact lenses and their large impact on the health of people.
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