{"id":1476,"date":"2023-03-16T12:27:39","date_gmt":"2023-03-16T16:27:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.warbyparker.com\/learn\/?p=1476"},"modified":"2026-04-02T03:12:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-02T07:12:33","slug":"sun-damage-to-eyes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/sun-damage-to-eyes","title":{"rendered":"Can Sunlight Damage Your Eyes?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We protect our skin from the sun with lotions, clothing, and other accessories (parasol, anyone?). But did you know your eyes need sun protection too? Direct exposure or overexposure to sunlight can harm your eyes. It can even lead to serious or permanent damage over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss how the sun can damage your eyes, how to determine if you have sun-damaged eyes, and what you can do to protect yourself from the sun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How the Sun Affects Your Eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&#8217;ve probably heard that sunlight is good for you, and in many ways, that\u2019s true. It\u2019s a great source of vitamin D, which is necessary for a healthy body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But sunlight can also have a negative impact if you&#8217;re not careful. When your eyes are exposed to a lot of sunlight, the UV rays can damage your eyes in several ways.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">UV Damage to Eyes<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sunlight is a source of ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Artificial lighting and tanning beds may also produce UV rays. These rays can damage the eye&#8217;s structure over time and with enough exposure.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">UV light can damage several <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/eye-anatomy\">parts of the eye<\/a>, including the surface tissue, cornea, and lens. This, in turn, can increase your risk of various eye diseases.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Here are a few <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/eye-disorders-and-eye-diseases\">eye conditions and diseases<\/a> that excessive exposure to the sun may contribute to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Cataracts&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Pterygium<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/learn\/macular-degeneration\">Macular degeneration<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cancer related to the eye or eyelid<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/photokeratitis\">Photokeratitis<\/a>, including snow blindness<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<\/div><!-- .entry-content (split for inline block) -->\n\n<section class=\"wp-blocks__banner has-img white\">\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t<img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/02\/sunglasses-on-white-shapes-cta.jpg\" alt=\"Protect those peepers\" loading=\"lazy\" \/>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-blocks__banner-img\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2>Protect those peepers<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<p>Our sunglasses provide 100% UV protection<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-blocks-banner__cta-links\" style=\"flex-wrap:wrap;\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/sunglasses\">Shop sunglasses <svg id=\"aa495747-7767-4ea8-bc8e-3e09f9e2a480\" data-name=\"Layer 1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 5.5 9.5\"><path d=\"M5.49,4.61a.87.87,0,0,1,0,.32.73.73,0,0,1-.2.35l-4,4A.75.75,0,0,1,.22,8.22L3.69,4.75.22,1.28A.75.75,0,0,1,1.28.22l4,4A.75.75,0,0,1,5.49,4.61Z\" style=\"fill:#1050D0;fill-rule:evenodd\"\/><\/svg>\n<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/section>\n\n<div class=\"entry-content\"><!-- (reopen for inline block) -->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Symptoms of Eye Damage From the Sun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sun damage to the eyes can result in short-term or long-term signs. Symptoms may not always be obvious and usually vary from person to person.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you think you might have sun-damaged eyes, here are some tell-tale signs many people with sun damage experience:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Blurry vision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Scratchy feeling in the eyes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Watery eyes<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><a href=\"\/learn\/red-eyes\">Redness<\/a> or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/why-do-my-eyes-hurt\">pain in the eyes<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Sensitivity to the light<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Halos (bright circles or rings around light) in your vision<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Temporary vision loss<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re still not sure, it may be a good idea to reach out to your <a href=\"\/learn\/optometrist\">optometrist<\/a> and schedule a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/what-to-expect-at-an-eye-exam\">comprehensive eye exam<\/a>. If you\u2019re experiencing any of these symptoms, your doctor can take a look and help you determine what\u2019s going on and what to do about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can You Repair Sun-Damaged Eyes?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Good news\u2014most symptoms of sun exposure will subside after a little while\u2014sometimes within hours or days.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, more serious eye conditions related to sun damage, such as cataracts or macular degeneration, may not go away on their own. Those conditions usually require treatment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So, when you notice pain or changes in your vision that persist after a couple of days, contact your doctor to seek medical help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How To Protect Your Eyes From the Sun<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Properly taking care of your eyes when you are in the sun can help prevent UV damage. Consider the following prevention tips:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Use Sunglasses With UV Protection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s easy to assume that <em>all<\/em> sunglasses will protect your eyes from the sun. But that\u2019s not always the case. Some <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/sunglasses\/lenses\">lenses<\/a> don\u2019t have the needed protection, so your eyes can be exposed to harmful UV rays, despite your precautions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When shopping for the perfect frames, it\u2019s essential to look at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/sunglasses\">sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection<\/a>. If you\u2019re unsure about your current sunglasses, maybe it\u2019s time to consider a new pair. Investing in a good pair of sunglasses can protect your eyes from sun-related problems in the future. (And who doesn\u2019t love a new accessory?)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Wear a Hat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s always a good idea to wear a hat whenever you\u2019re outside. Why? <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cancercouncil.com.au\/wp-content\/uploads\/2011\/12\/Sun-safe-hats-information-sheet.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Some experts<\/a> believe some hats can reduce the amount of UV radiation your eyes are exposed to by up to 50%.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Adding a wide-brimmed hat to your outdoor look can protect your eyes, ears, face, and scalp from the harmful effects of UV rays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Avoid Looking Directly at the Sun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Never look into the sun directly. We\u2019ve heard it once, twice\u2014so many times! Why the repetition? It\u2019s that important. Looking directly into the sun can be detrimental to your eye health.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you look straight at the sun (with no protection), it may damage the retina or cornea and lead to other serious ocular conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Protect Your Eyes With UV Sunglasses!<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your eyes need just as much protection from the sun as the rest of your body. For that reason, sunglasses\u2014with UV protection, of course\u2014can be your best friend to combat sun damage to the eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the end of the day, sun protection is <em>all<\/em> about the accessories! A great pair of sunglasses (with or without a prescription) and a stylish hat can do more than add flair to your look. They can keep your eyes safe too.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We protect our skin from the sun with lotions, clothing, and other accessories (parasol, anyone?). But did you know your eyes need sun protection too? Direct exposure or overexposure to sunlight can harm your eyes. It can even lead to serious or permanent damage over time. In this article, we&#8217;ll discuss how the sun can [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":1477,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-eye-health"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.6 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>How Does the Sun Damage Our Eyes? | Warby Parker<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Excess or direct sunlight can be very harmful to your eyes. Learn more about sun damage and how to protect your eyes.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/sun-damage-to-eyes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How Does the Sun Damage Our Eyes? | Warby Parker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Excess or direct sunlight can be very harmful to your eyes. Learn more about sun damage and how to protect your eyes.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/sun-damage-to-eyes\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Warby Parker\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-03-16T16:27:39+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-04-02T07:12:33+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.stage.warby.io\/learn\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/can-sunlight-damage-eyes-d.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1166\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1166\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Dr. Nehal Verma\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Dr. Nehal Verma\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"4 minutes\" \/>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How Does the Sun Damage Our Eyes? | Warby Parker","description":"Excess or direct sunlight can be very harmful to your eyes. 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