Celebrate National Sunglasses Day & Protect Your Eyes

It seems that every day the internet is celebrating some bizarre holiday that that can be wacky and fun to some (i.e National Spaghetti Day), and uninteresting and ridiculous to others. This is not the case for National Sunglasses Day which is celebrated on the 27th of June each year. In fact, last year National Sunglasses Day “broke the internet” as resulted in over 1 billion online, social media, and broadcast impressions.

So what is “National Sunglasses Day”? Well, it is a movement started by The Vision Council encouraging everyone to share the the important message of UV protection. According to The Vision Council, 75 percent of American adults report being concerned about UV eye exposure, however only 31 percent report wearing sunglasses every time they go outside.

In recognition of National Sunglasses Day, see below for 3 easy ways to protect your eyes this Summer and beyond.

1. Eat dark leafy greens and food rich in Omega-3 fatty acids

It’s a hot Michigan summer day and you are about to fire up the grill with family & friends. Although delicious, BBQ sauce and chicken and/or ribs isn’t monogamous. Trying mixing it up this Summer by adding Grandma’s famous BBQ sauce to a fresh filet of wild caught Sockeye salmon. Why salmon? Because salmon protects your eyes and is one of the most nutrient-dense foods on the planet. At 4,023 mg of Omega-3’s per serving, salmon is the 2nd highest pound-per-pound food in delivering healthy eyes (right behind mackerel).

If you’re not ready to trade in that slab of ribs for a piece of salmon, we do have some vegetarian options that pair nicely with your traditional BBQ land animals. While spinach and broccoli are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids that protect your eyes, there are other options you may have never considered, such as Chia seeds, Brussels sprouts, and basil. In just one gram of Chia seeds, there is more than (1) daily dose of your recommended serving of omega-3s

2. Exercise regularly

According to the Cleveland Clinic, regular exercise doesn’t just tone you up and slim you down. In fact, getting plenty of regular exercise is proven to reduce risks for wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, and delay the onset of cataracts.

Life can be hectic and many of us fight the same battles when trying to find time to exercise. It’s easy to justify your way out exercising, however you owe it to yourself to try and commit to 20 minutes, 3-5 times per week. It can be as little as a family walk to as intense as a boot camp/boxing class. The important part is that you are being active and protecting your eyes in doing so.

3. Wear sunglasses & look good while doing it!

This is the simple, often forgotten part. Protect your eyes and get into the habit of wearing sunglasses! Even on overcast days, the ultra-violet rays are still beaming through the sky, doing whatever it takes to pierce through and damage your eyes.

The ideal sunglasses should block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Before you buy, check the label to make sure they do. Labels that say “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “Meets ANSI UV Requirements” mean the glasses block at least 99% of UV rays. Those labeled “cosmetic” block about 70% of UV rays. If there is no label, don’t assume the sunglasses provide any UV protection.

Share your comments and let me know if I hit or missed the mark. Outside of wearing sunglasses, how do you protect your eyes?