The American Academy of Ophthalmology has recommended sunglasses be worn outdoors to prevent keratitis and other damage, even when the sun isn’t shining, after a European study reported over half of ocular exposure comes from scattering and cloud reflection.
The New York Times shared the AAO’s reminder to slap on the sunnies on dull days, citing European research that called reflected UV ‘an important and underestimated contributor to vision damage’.
The angle of the sun at different times of the year and at different latitudes can create different peak exposure times to the usual midday period traditionally highlighted, warned the AAO.
“Think of sunglasses as sunscreen for your eyes,” said AAO spokesperson Dr Dianna Seldomridge. “Make sure your eyes are protected year-round. Harmful UV rays are present even on cloudy days.”
