Summer is coming — and so are sunburned eyes

Southern Oregon got a tantalizing taste of summer last week, when temperatures rose into the 80s. This was a good reminder to protect our eyes.

Long hours in the sun can expose unprotected eyes to the sun’s rays and can cause sunburned eyes. If you’ve ever spent several hours in the sun and then had your eyes become itchy, sensitive to light, or dry and gritty, it’s possible that you had sunburned eyes. Repeated unprotected exposure to the sun’s rays can contribute to cataracts.

Here are some tips on protecting your eyes from the sun:

• Wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses whenever you’re outside.
• Don’t be fooled by clouds — sun rays can pass through haze and thin clouds.
• Never look directly at the sun. Looking directly at the sun at any time can lead to damage to the eye’s retina from solar radiation.

Taking just a few small steps of precaution can help you enjoy good vision anytime of the year. VSP, the company that administers Asante’s vision plan, also offers special deals throughout the year on glasses and sunglasses. VSP recently changed its name from Vision Service Plan to VSP Vision.

For more information, and for more vision health tips, visit VSP.com or call (800) 877-7195. If you have any questions about vision benefits, email Asante Benefits or call (541) 789-4551. You can also submit a case in the Ask HR section of myHR.