Contact Lenses and UV Light

As we continue in this series on ContactLenses from Liz Segre article on AllAboutVision.com, lets look at why some contact lenses now have UV-blocking.

Researchers have linked ultraviolet (UV) light to the formation of cataracts. Exposure to excessive UV light also may result in a condition called photokeratitis.

That's why some contact lenses now contain a UV-blocking agent. You can't tell if a contact lens has a UV blocker just by looking at it — the blocking agent is clear, so as not to disturb vision. The contact lens packaging will specify if the product has a UV blocker.

·         UV-blocking contacts are not meant to replace sunglasses. A contact lens covers only your cornea, not your entire eye.

·         UV-blocking contact lenses do help protect the portion of the white of your eye that is covered from formation of growths such as pingueculae and pterygia.

·         Sunglasses with UV protection can cover more of your eye and the parts of your face that surround the eye, depending on the size of the sunglass lens.

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