Prevent Eye Sun Damage with Proper Sunglasses Say Houston Doctors

GALVESTON, TX, April 24, 2013 (Press-News.org) "The risk of sun and UV damage to your eyes may be greater than most people realize," commented Ophthalmologist Allan Fradkin, M.D. of The Eye Clinic of Texas. "With the Houston sun getting considerably stronger as we enter the summer months, using proper eye protection with sunglasses is really necessary," said Dr. Fradkin. "Patients who experience UV damage to their skin from sunburn are aware of it quickly and thus it is easy to remember to take the necessary precautions. UV sun damage to your eyes can be more subtle, and worse, it is cumulative and can take many years to become apparent to patients," explained Dr. Da-Thuy Van an Ophthalmologist at The Eye Clinic of Texas. "I see many patients for BOTOX and gel fillers who want to smooth facial lines and wrinkles around their eyes caused by the harmful effects of the sun. While I am happy to help them, I always spend time counseling them on wearing proper UV protecting eyewear and sunglasses as it is obvious that they are working outdoors or have a lifestyle that exposes them to a great deal of UV and sunlight," she said. "There is a sizeable body of knowledge demonstrating that exposure to UV from excessive sunlight can hasten the onset of eye diseases such as cataract, age related macular degeneration (AMD), certain cancers on the delicate skin around the eye, Pterygia-a growth of white tissue on the surface of the eye-and even photokeratitis, a type of sunburn of the cornea," said Dr. Milstein.

The eye doctors at The Eye Clinic of Texas want to reiterate some common sense precautions for protecting against UV eye damage as well as UV skin damage on the face and around your eyes. First, if you are going to be outside in the Houston sun you need to wear sunscreen. Second, remember to wear UV-blocking eyeglass or sunglass lenses. Choose an eyeglass or sunglass frame that is large enough so that it covers the delicate tissue and skin around the eye. Third, wear a hat with a brim to further block sunlight and protect your eyes surrounding tissue.

Patients visiting Texas EyeWear Opticians at The Clinic of Texas will find a wide range of UV protecting eyeglass lenses and sunglasses available to choose from. Eye protection from UV needs to be complete but doesn't have to be overly expensive. High quality sunglasses should block out 99-100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. It is also important to have UV protection in everyday eyewear, which is readily available with a number of UV blocking eyeglass lens materials, specialized coatings and photochromic lenses.

The Eye Clinic of Texas is an affiliate of Houston Eye Associates, the largest ophthalmology clinic in the nation. We are a leading eye care practice serving the greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area that provides all aspects of general, medical, surgical, laser and optical eye care. Our Board Certified Ophthalmologists perform Laser Eye Surgery such as LASIK, Cataract Surgery & Lens Implants using advanced technology IOLs to correct complex problems such as astigmatism and near vision focusing problems including presbyopia, diagnosis and management of glaucoma, diagnosis and management of diabetic retinopathy, diagnosis and management of Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Pediatric Ophthalmology. Texas EyeWear at The Eye Clinic of Texas provides personalized consultation and fitting of eyeglasses and eyeglass lenses for greater Houston, Galveston, League City and Texas City area patients.

To learn more about The Eye Clinic of Texas you may visit http://www.ecot.com or http://www.facebook.com/ecot.lasik or follow our eye care blog at http://www.ecot.com/blog.

SOURCE: Medical Management Services Group, L.L.C.
http://www.facebook.com/MedicalManagementServicesGroup
http://www.aboutcataractsurgery.com
http://www.seewithlasik.com

For additional information, contact:
Amy Trittel, The Eye Clinic of Texas, 2302 Avenue P, Galveston, Texas 77550, atrittel@ecot.com, 1-800-423-3937