Sunglasses are crucial for protecting your eyes

AccuWeather's Bill Wadell explains the safety sunglasses provide for summer weather.

Transcript

00:00Don't forget your favorite pair of shades before you head out the door.

00:03Today is National Sunglasses Day.

00:07AccuWeather is a proud supporter of the Vision Council Foundation's mission

00:10to raise awareness about eye health and UV protection eyewear.

00:16AccuWeather's Bill Waddell has more on the mission to protect our eyes from the sun and the weather in New York City.

00:22Sunglasses are not just a summertime style statement.

00:25A good pair of shades can protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation from the sun

00:30and the harsh impacts from the weather all year long.

00:34UV rays are present even when it's overcast, even in the wintertime.

00:39As little as 100 seconds of direct sun exposure can result in permanent retinal damage.

00:46Yet 13% of adults report they never wear sunglasses.

00:50Ashley Mills and the Vision Council are on a mission to change that.

00:55UV is always there, and it can be really damaging to your vision health.

00:59It can cause conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration.

01:04The leading advocate for the optical industry says the risk grows the more time you spend outdoors without sunglasses.

01:11You're still being impacted, but you won't notice it maybe that day like you would with a sunburn.

01:16A lot of times the UV damage is cumulative, and you won't notice it until you go to an eye doctor later in your life,

01:24and you find out that you actually have a lot of sun damage to your eyes because you weren't protected earlier on.

01:29Ultraviolet rays can penetrate through clouds.

01:33Surfaces like water, sand, even snow can reflect UV rays,

01:38almost doubling the intensity of exposure to unprotected eyes.

01:42Think about your eyes as frequently as you're checking the weather.

01:46AccuWeather makes it easy to plan ahead and protect your eye health with the AccuLumen Brightness Index,

01:53available for free on the AccuWeather app and AccuWeather.com.

01:57It's a one-of-its-kind index with an easy way to characterize the brightness of the day.

02:03The AccuLumen Brightness Index is a tremendous tool that everyone should use

02:07because it empowers them with data to understand the elements outside

02:11and make great decisions about how to protect their vision health.

02:15Spending some time in the sun safely can be good for our health.

02:19UV exposure boosts vitamin D production and can even help reduce stress.

02:23Just like a good sunscreen for your skin, the experts say make sure your sunglasses have 100% UVA

02:29and UVB protection to help protect your eyes and preserve your vision.

02:35Reporting in New York City, for AccuWeather, I'm Bill Waddell.