Georgia health connection e-newsletter, 2009 July

July Newsletter
July is UV Safety Month
As much as a sunny day makes us feel great, the effects of sun damage are long lasting. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), overexposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays causes premature aging of the skin, cataracts, immune system suppression as well as skin cancer. Much of the sun's damage adults see on their skin may come from overexposure when they were kids. American Osteopathic College of Dermatology states that damage accumulates over a lifetime with each unprotected exposure to the sun. You may not be able to reverse the damage done, but you can protect yourself and your children going forward. Take along a wide-brimmed hat, sunglasses and sun screen and minimize the time you spend in direct sun light. Listen to the July edition of the Georgia Wellcast to learn more about UV Safety. Click on the Wellcast icon to the right. Look for information each month pertaining to various health topics and visit georgiahealthinfo.gov to find what you need to become a Wise Health Consumer.
Protecting Your Eyes from UV Rays
While the sun is necessary for most life on earth to thrive, it also poses a great threat to our skin, immune system and eyes. The threat is primarily from the sun's UV rays. While most of us know to protect our skin from the sun, many of us may not realize how UV rays can also damage the eyes. Prevent Blindness America states that there are two types of dangerous UV rays we need to protect our eyes from: UV-A and UV-B. UV-A can damage the macula, a part of the retina at the back of the eye. UV-B can cause even more damage than UV-A by effecting the cornea and lens.

The EPA warns that the effects of UV exposure build up over time. They have compiled a list of eye disorders that can occur from long-term exposure to UV rays without proper protection:
Cataracts a clouding of the eye's lens that causes blurry vision Snow Blindness (Photokeratitis) similar to a sunburn, a temporary but painful
burn to the cornea caused by light reflections off surfaces such as water, snow or concrete as well as artificial light sources such as tanning beds. Pterygium usually a non-cancerous growth in the corner of the eye that can grow over the cornea, blocking vision. Surgery is typically needed to remove the growth Skin cancer around the eyelids basal cell carcinoma is the most common skin cancer to effect the area around the eyelids
To provide adequate protection, the American Optometric Association suggests wearing proper sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays and screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light. The really good news is that you don't have to spend a lot of money to find sunglasses that block these harmful rays! If you are a contact lens wear, you can get additional protection by looking for FDA-approved contacts that block both UV-A and UV-B rays.
So next time you are heading outdoors, whether it's to the beach or just a ride in the car, do not forget your sun screen, hat or your UV-blocking sunglasses!
For additional information on men's health, please visit georgiahealthinfo.gov.