Risk: sunlight is very intense and the ultraviolet light can cause permanent, chronic yellowing (pinguecula) and redness (pterygium) in the whites of the eyes. Unprotected sun exposure increases risk of cataract development and macular degeneration. People with darker pigmented skin (Blacks, Hispanics, Asian) have high risk of sun causing permanent brown spots in whites of eyes.

I-Brite can treat the yellowing, bloodshot, and pigmented eyes that are caused by years of being in the sun; sun damage begins starting as a child playing outside without sunglasses.

Recommendations to decrease sun damage to eyes:

•Wear sunglasses

•Wear hat

•Best protection is wear both sunglasses and hat since hat blocks light coming in from above rim of sunglasses

•Be sure sunglasses have good wrap around design to block light from sides

•Wear sports sunglasses or goggles in swimming pool or ocean since water gives reflection of sunlight so double UV exposure

•Never look directly at the sun since it can cause retina damage

•Apply an artificial tear drop prior to pro-longer period of time in sun, think of this as sunblock for your eye

•Have your children start weaing sunglasses (we started our 4 y.o. twin girls in sunglasses when they were just one year old).

•Don’t apply sunscreen too close to the eyes as it can get in and burn – if you are exercising while wearing sunscreen don’t apply to eyelids as sweat will cause it to get into the eyes which can burn

•Avoid opening your eyes in a swimming pool with chemical chlorine as it cause caused blurred vision for the rest of the day

•Swim with swimming goggles with tinted UV protection – they also allow you to open your eyes under water

•If you’ve been out in the sun all day and wake up the next day with painful eyes, put artificial tears in. If still painful, see eye doctor right away.

•If you’re playing Summer contact sports like basketball, be sure to wear protective sports goggles or shields. Ditto for Summer hobbyists who work with tools (like grinding) to protect eyes from flying foreign objects that act like tiny missiles and can damage eyes.