Harsh sun is just one threat the coming months will bring

Like most other people, El Paso Community College student Anel Covarrubias has never really thought about the importance of wearing sunglasses in the winter.Aside from the obvious reason -- to look fashionable -- she usually wears her Oakley sunglasses only when she drives."I'm guessing the UV rays would be just as strong in the winter as they are in the summer, right?"Covarrubias would be correct."The UV lights are still there in the winter," said Dr. Mark Gallardo, an ophthalmologist with El Paso Eye Surgeons. "UV rays can even go through clouds and still damage the eye."UV rays can lead to skin cancer on the eyelids, can damage the stem cells on the eyeball, and can lead to overgrowth of the skin on the cornea.

"There is some thought that it could lead to macular degeneration," Gallardo said.Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people older than 60. It occurs when the small central part of the retina (the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye), known as the macula, deteriorates.Macular degeneration is almost never a totally blinding condition, but it can cause significant visual disability.Gallardo said wearing properly fitted sunglasses is one way people can prevent eye injuries."In certain cases, like for individuals who ski, they can actually get a sunburn on the eyeball itself called photokeratitis, which can be very painful," he said. "A lot of individuals have a difficult time keeping their eyes open because it's so painful. Some people refer to it as snow blindness."

A recent national survey conducted by N3L Optics found that one in five American adults has experienced an eye injury while participating in outdoor sports or activities.The injury rate is highest for men (1 in 3) and those ages 25-34 (1 in 4).Many of these injuries could have been prevented by simply wearing sunglasses.But it's not only skiers, walkers, runners, cyclists and golfers who can experience eye problems."People still do a lot of yard work in the winter," said Gallardo. "Having any kind of eye protection can prevent having trauma in the eyeball itself. I can't tell you how many times people who were just doing yard work around the house have come in for cornea liberations or even penetrating eye injuries from tree branches."


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