{"id":6002743,"date":"2025-07-21T11:41:53","date_gmt":"2025-07-21T10:41:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/?p=6002743"},"modified":"2025-07-21T11:43:29","modified_gmt":"2025-07-21T10:43:29","slug":"how-to-protect-your-eyes-from-the-sun-in-summer-essential-tips-for-the-whole-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/article\/how-to-protect-your-eyes-from-the-sun-in-summer-essential-tips-for-the-whole-family\/","title":{"rendered":"How to protect your eyes from the sun in summer: essential tips for the whole family"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><strong>Find out how to protect your eyes from UV radiation in summer and why you should choose sunglasses with guaranteed protection. Practical and effective tips!<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">In summer, it's natural to think about protecting your skin from the sun's rays. But what about the eyes? <\/span><b>Eye protection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> in summer is essential to prevent more serious silent eye diseases such as cataracts and retinal degeneration. In this article, we explain <\/span><b>why you should wear glasses with UV protection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">and how to choose the right model for you and your family.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>1. Why is it important to protect your eyes in summer?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is present even on cloudy days. Direct and prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays can cause:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Photokeratitis (painful inflammation of the cornea, like a \"sunburn\")<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Early cataracts<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Ageing of the lens and retina<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">What's more, unprotected exposure accelerates the natural wear and tear on vision throughout life.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>2. Technical explanation: what is a UV filter and how does it work?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-6002745 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/coi.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/raios-uva-300x300.png\" alt=\"eye protection\" width=\"300\" height=\"300\" title=\"\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coi.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/raios-uva-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/coi.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/raios-uva-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/coi.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/raios-uva-100x100.png 100w, https:\/\/coi.pt\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/raios-uva.png 420w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">There are two main types of UV radiation that are harmful to the eyes:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UVA (affects the retina and contributes to eye ageing)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">UVB (affects the cornea and lens, causes more immediate damage)\n<p><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">- What does \"UV400\" mean?<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Glasses with a UV400 filter block 100% of UVA and UVB radiation down to 400 nanometres - the level of protection recommended by the WHO and the Portuguese Ophthalmological Society.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Not all sunglasses protect your eyes<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Some cheap models darken vision, but don't block UV rays, which dilates the pupil and increases exposure to sun damage.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>3. Common myths about eye protection in summer<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"If it's cloudy, I don't need sunglasses.\"<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Wrong. <\/span><b>Up to 90% of UV radiation passes through clouds.<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> Always wear glasses with a UV filter, even when the sky is overcast.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"I only wear sunglasses on the beach or by the pool.\"<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Dangerous. A<\/span><b> solar radiation reflects off tarmac, sand, water and windows<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">This affects vision even in urban environments.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">\"Any dark glasses protect your eyes.\"<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">False. <\/span><b>Only glasses with certified UV protection (UV400) guarantee real protection<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">. Darkening the lens is not synonymous with protection.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>4. Studies and data: the real impact of UV radiation on the eyes<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">According to the World Health Organisation,<\/span><b> 20% of the world's cataract cases are attributed to prolonged exposure to UV rays.<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">A <\/span><b>Portuguese Ophthalmological Society recommends wearing glasses every day<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> with UV protection, even outside of summer.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Studies show that<\/span><b> reflection of UV radiation on surfaces such as water, sand and snow can increase exposure up to 85%.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>What's more:<\/b><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Children receive <\/span><b>3 times more sun exposure accumulated in the eyes <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">up to the age of 18 than adults.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Intense exposure in the first 20 years of life increases the risk of<\/span><b> chronic eye diseases in the future.<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>5. Where can I find sunglasses with guaranteed protection?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">No <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Centro \u00d3ptico Ib\u00e9rico<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> you'll find a selection of sunglasses with UV400 protection, available for the whole family:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Recognised brands: <\/span><b>Ray-Ban, Vogue, Gucci, Tom Ford<\/b><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Options with or without a degree<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Frames adapted to children's faces<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Personalised in-store advice<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/shop\/\"><b>View online shop<\/b><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400\"> or visit one of our physical shops in Vila Verde, Barcelos, Valen\u00e7a, Melga\u00e7o or Mon\u00e7\u00e3o.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><b>6. Book your free optometry appointment<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Protecting your eyes goes beyond the right glasses. We recommend:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Visual acuity assessment<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Checking the need for prescription sunglasses<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Personalised optometry consultation<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400\">Visual health should be a priority, especially in the months of increased sun exposure. Wearing glasses with certified UV protection is a simple gesture that can prevent future problems. Bet on your vision and that of your family with the confidence of Centro \u00d3ptico Ib\u00e9rico - professionals dedicated to your eye health since 1991.<\/p>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/\"><b>Book an appointment<\/b><\/a><b> is simple and free - at any of the Centro \u00d3ptico Ib\u00e9rico shops.<\/b><b><br \/>\n<\/b><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Descubra como proteger os olhos da radia\u00e7\u00e3o UV no ver\u00e3o e saiba porque deve escolher \u00f3culos de sol com prote\u00e7\u00e3o garantida. Dicas pr\u00e1ticas e eficazes! No ver\u00e3o, \u00e9 natural pensarmos em proteger a pele dos raios solares. Mas e os olhos? A prote\u00e7\u00e3o dos olhos no ver\u00e3o \u00e9 essencial para prevenir doen\u00e7as oculares silenciosas mais [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":830,"featured_media":6002744,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-6002743","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sem-categoria"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6002743","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/830"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6002743"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6002743\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6002751,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6002743\/revisions\/6002751"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6002744"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6002743"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6002743"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coi.pt\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6002743"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}