Protecting Your Eyes During UV Safety Month 

Long-term exposure to UV rays can increase cataracts, eye disease, and skin damage risk

With Hawaiʻi’s year-round sun drawing residents and visitors outdoors, UV Safety Month serves as an important reminder that protecting your eyes is just as essential as protecting your skin. Hawaiian Eye Center wants your eyes protected throughout the summer, as spending time at the beach, hiking, boating, playing sports, or enjoying outdoor activities increases.

While applying sunscreen before sun exposure is considered routine and essential, eye protection is often overlooked, despite the damaging effects ultraviolet (UV) rays can have on eyes. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, prolonged exposure to UV radiation may increase the risk of developing cataracts, growths on the eye, and certain eye cancers. UV rays reflected from sand, ocean water, and even pavement can intensify exposure, potentially causing a painful condition known as photokeratitis—or “sunburn of the eye”—which can temporarily impair vision.

“Living in Hawaiʻi means we have the opportunity to enjoy the outdoors nearly every day of the year, but it also means our eyes are exposed to higher levels of ultraviolet radiation,” says Dr. Steven Rhee of Hawaiian Eye Center. “Just as sunscreen protects your skin, quality sunglasses that block 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays help safeguard your vision and reduce your risk of long-term eye damage.”

Hawaiian Eye Center recommends the following tips to protect your eyes and skin while enjoying the outdoors:

• Wear sunglasses that block 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound styles offer additional protection by limiting sunlight entering from the sides.
• Wearing a wide brimmed hat to reduce direct sunlight reaching your eyes and face.
• Apply broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher to all exposed skin, including around the eyelids and face, while avoiding contact with the eyes.
• Seek shade whenever possible, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. when UV rays are strongest.
• Be especially cautious around water, sand, and concrete, which reflect UV rays and increase exposure.
• Encourage children to wear hats, sunglasses, and sunscreen early in life, as UV damage accumulates over time.
• Schedule regular comprehensive eye exams to detect eye conditions before they affect vision.

Even on cloudy days, up to 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can penetrate cloud cover, making year-round eye protection an important part of maintaining lifelong eye health.

“Healthy vision allows us to fully enjoy Hawaiʻi’s beautiful outdoor lifestyle,” says Dr. Rhee. “Taking a few simple preventive measures today can make a meaningful difference in protecting your eyesight, preserving your vision for years to come.”