Summer, the season of fun in the sun is coming up and everyone will be out enjoying the beautiful weather. But, before you head out to the beach or the park take a moment to find out how to protect your eyes from the damaging effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Most of the UV radiation that we are exposed to comes from the sun but it can be given off by artificial sources like welding machines, tanning beds and lasers. There are three types of UV radiation A, B, and C. UV-C is completely absorbed by the ozone layer so it poses no threat. Unfortunately that's not true of UV-A and UV-B. Scientific evidence now shows that exposure to both of these can have damaging long and short term effects on your eyes.

The short term effect of being exposed unprotected to excessive amount of UV can be photokeratitis. Like a sunburn of the eye, this condition may be painful additional symptoms include a feeling of something in the eye, extreme sensitivity to light and excessive tearing. Fortunately, this is usually a temporary condition that goes away without causing permanent damage to the eye.

The long term effects of exposure to UV radiation are cumulative. The longer and greater your exposure the higher your risk for developing cataracts and other reticular damage. In order protect your eyes you should wear quality sunglasses and a wide brimmed hat whenever you are outside.

To provide protection for your eyes, your sunglasses should: block out 99 to 100 percent of UV-A and UV-B radiation; screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light; and have lenses that are gray, green or brown. Wraparound frames are great if you spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight.

Contact lens wearers have the option of extra protection since lenses with UV blocking are available. These lenses are not meant to be a substitute for sunglasses but they can help block radiation that seeps in over the tops and sides of sunglasses and they do provide some protection against indoor UV radiation emitted by halogen and fluorescent lighting.

UV Radiation Risk Check List

Carefully read the risk factors below to see if you're in a higher risk category:

• You spend a lot of time outdoors.
• You ski, mountain climb or go to the beach frequently.
• You use a sunlamp or tanning bed.
• You live in the mountains or the sunbelt.
• You are a welder, medical technologist, graphic artist or a manufacturer of electronic circuit boards.
• You take drugs that make you photosensitive.
• You've had cataract surgery in one or both eyes.

If you fall into a higher risk group due to one or more factors make sure you get frequent eyes exams and follow the precautions above to limit your exposure to harmful UV radiation and protect your sight.