CHECK Berlin / Brandenburg #5

EYE HEALTH
ENGLISH
UV PROTECTION
FOR THE EYES
Summer is finally coming! After the lockdown and a truly
cold spring, everyone is looking forward to getting outside
and feeling the sun. But not only our skin needs protection
from solar radiation. We asked Dr. Lubos Frano, specialist in
ophthalmology, what we can do to avoid damage to our eyes.
Dr. Lubos Frano
Augenkraft Institut
für gutes Sehen
Innsbrucker Straße 58,
10825 Berlin
www.augenkraft.com
Hello Dr. Frano. What do you recommend as best
UV protection for the eyes?
Sunglasses. Not only are they cool, but with a
high level of UV protection (400nm) they also
make sense from a medical point of view. You
should check that your glasses have the label
“UV400” or “100 percent UV protection”.
What options do contact lens wearers have to
protect their eyes from UVA and UVB?
For all sporting activities, I usually wear contact
lenses combined with outdoor sports glasses.
The lenses already have a thin UV protective
layer, but not enough. Good sunglasses with adequate
UV protection with a polarization filter and
the CE mark eliminate reflections, improve contrast
and reduce glare. Glasses with anti-fog and
dirt-repellent coatings can also be important.
Why is sun protection so important for the eyes?
The German Ophthalmological Society (DOG)
recommends protecting your eyes on sunny
days. This applies to both summer and winter
as in winter the sun can be strongly reflected
by water and snow, causing so-called snow
blindness. In summer there is a danger with
water sports: the so-called surfer’s eye is an
overgrowth of the conjunctiva, which can often
arise as a result of intense sunlight reflecting on
the water.
Possible consequences of exposure to UV-A and
UV-B rays are damage to the cornea, clouding of
the lens – also known as cataracts – and cancer
in the form of melanoma on the retina. There is
also a connection between the sun’s rays and
the development of macular degeneration, an
incurable disease of the retina, which is the most
common cause of severe visual impairment in
people over the age of 60 in Germany.
That is why I recommend using a vitamin A eye
ointment in the evening just before going to bed,
which is available over the counter from around
five euros.
What other treatments do you recommend?
In the evening, you can treat your eyes with hyaluronic
eye drops as these work like an after-sun
treatment.
In the summer months our “Augenkraftr Hyaluron
Drops” provide refreshing moments and
optimal moisture after spending lots of time in
the sun or in the pool: an absolute must-have
that provides a cooling effect even after a game
of beach volleyball. The skin around the eyes is
six times thinner than the rest of the face. So I
would recommend applying a few drops of “Augenkraft
Hyaluron” to the area as a supplement
to “Augenkraft CBD Eye Cream”.
What else should people think about in terms of
eye health?
There is also increasing talk of so-called blue
light hazards. This means the high proportion
of blue in the light from computer and smartphone
screens and the risk it poses to our retina.
Consultation with an optician is important and
recommended when choosing the right glasses
to avoid potential damage. (ts,mb)
28 CHECK BERLIN/BRANDENBURG #5