CHICAGO—Prevent Blindness has named May UV Awareness Month in order to help educate the public on the dangers of UV radiation as well as to provide the necessary steps to maintain and protect healthy vision.

Along with being linked to skin cancer and being named a human carcinogen by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the World Health Organization, UV radiation from the sun and from tanning beds pose a threat to healthy eyesight, Prevent Blindness said in an announcement.

Cataract, a leading cause of visual impairment across the globe has been linked to UV exposure. Other eye problems that can be caused by UV rays include corneal sunburn, pterygium (a growth that begins on the white of the eye), macular degeneration and skin cancer around the eyelids.

There are different types of ultra violet radiation. UV-A radiation has a lower energy and penetrated deep into the eye which may injure the macula. UV-B radiation which is presumed to be more dangerous and is mainly absorbed by the cornea and lens of the eye and can potentially damage those tissues. A study by Case Western Reserve University, funded by the National Eye Institute, found that UV light can substitute for oxygen to trigger harmful oxidative reactions in the lens.

In order to protect against these harmful UV rays, Prevent Blindness recommends that both adults and children take precautionary measures such as wearing wide-brimmed hats or caps and proper UV-rated sunglasses. There are several options when it comes to protective eyewear like UV-blocking lens materials, coatings and photochromic lenses. They also recommend speaking with an eyecare professional to ensure that proper eye protection is being used.

“Because UV damage to the eyes can be immediate, like corneal sunburns, and cumulative, causing cataracts and macular degeneration, it is imperative that we protect our eyes and encourage our kids to practice the same healthy habits to protect our vision for years to come,” said Hugh R. Parry, president and CEO of Prevent Blindness.

For more information on the dangers of UV exposure and how to choose the best UV protection, visit preventblindness.org/uv.