CHECK Nord #2
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EYE HEALTH<br />
ENGLISH<br />
UV PROTECTION<br />
FOR THE EYES<br />
Summer is finally coming! After the lockdown and a truly<br />
cold spring, everyone is looking forward to getting outside<br />
and feeling the sun. But not only our skin needs protection<br />
from solar radiation. We asked Dr. Lubos Frano, specialist in<br />
ophthalmology, what we can do to avoid damage to our eyes.<br />
Dr. Lubos Frano<br />
Augenkraft Institut<br />
für gutes Sehen<br />
Innsbrucker Straße 58,<br />
10825 Berlin<br />
www.augenkraft.com<br />
Interview: Ernesto Klews<br />
Hello Dr. Frano. What do you recommend as best<br />
UV protection for the eyes?<br />
Sunglasses. Not only are they cool, but with a<br />
high level of UV protection (400nm) they also<br />
make sense from a medical point of view. You<br />
should check that your glasses have the label<br />
“UV400” or “100 percent UV protection”.<br />
What options do contact lens wearers have to<br />
protect their eyes from UVA and UVB?<br />
For all sporting activities, I usually wear contact<br />
lenses combined with outdoor sports glasses.<br />
The lenses already have a thin UV protective<br />
layer, but not enough. Good sunglasses with adequate<br />
UV protection with a polarization filter and<br />
the CE mark eliminate reflections, improve contrast<br />
and reduce glare. Glasses with anti-fog and<br />
dirt-repellent coatings can also be important.<br />
Why is sun protection so important for the eyes?<br />
The German Ophthalmological Society (DOG)<br />
recommends protecting your eyes on sunny<br />
days. This applies to both summer and winter<br />
as in winter the sun can be strongly reflected<br />
by water and snow, causing so-called snow<br />
blindness. In summer there is a danger with<br />
water sports: the so-called surfer’s eye is an<br />
overgrowth of the conjunctiva, which can often<br />
arise as a result of intense sunlight reflecting on<br />
the water.<br />
Possible consequences of exposure to UV-A and<br />
UV-B rays are damage to the cornea, clouding of<br />
the lens – also known as cataracts – and cancer<br />
in the form of melanoma on the retina. There is<br />
also a connection between the sun’s rays and<br />
the development of macular degeneration, an<br />
incurable disease of the retina, which is the most<br />
common cause of severe visual impairment in<br />
people over the age of 60 in Germany.<br />
That is why I recommend using a vitamin A eye<br />
ointment in the evening just before going to bed,<br />
which is available over the counter from around<br />
five euros.<br />
What other treatments do you recommend?<br />
In the evening, you can treat your eyes with hyaluronic<br />
eye drops as these work like an after-sun<br />
treatment.<br />
In the summer months our “Augenkraftr Hyaluron<br />
Drops” provide refreshing moments and<br />
optimal moisture after spending lots of time in<br />
the sun or in the pool: an absolute must-have<br />
that provides a cooling effect even after a game<br />
of beach volleyball. The skin around the eyes is<br />
six times thinner than the rest of the face. So I<br />
would recommend applying a few drops of “Augenkraft<br />
Hyaluron” to the area as a supplement<br />
to “Augenkraft CBD Eye Cream”.<br />
What else should people think about in terms of<br />
eye health?<br />
There is also increasing talk of so-called blue<br />
light hazards. This means the high proportion<br />
of blue in the light from computer and smartphone<br />
screens and the risk it poses to our retina.<br />
Consultation with an optician is important and<br />
recommended when choosing the right glasses<br />
to avoid potential damage. (ts,mb)<br />
22 <strong>CHECK</strong> NORD <strong>#2</strong>