Bright light can cause extreme damages to your delicate eye tissue because of the high concentration of UV rays present in it. Be it the sunlight or the indoor lighting, it is important to maintain a comfortable degree of brightness so that you can prevent any eye damages from looking directly into bright light. Bright light can cause uncontrolled reflexes in eye muscles and also interfere with the normal functioning of the eye lens, causing a blurring or blinding sensation in the vision of the viewer.

Why is it important to protect your eyes from bright light?

Bright light coming from halogen lamps, sun, and other direct light sources can be damaging to your eyes in many ways. Although bright sunlight can lighten up your spirit on a joy-filled summer day, it can also cause progressive eye damages because of its high degree of brightness. Similarly, the light sources used in your homes can also damage your eyes if you are unable to control the brightness of the light coming out of them. Here are all the proven reasons which validate the damaging effects of bright light on our eyes:

Protection from corneal damage:

Corneal damage is the most common deteriorating effect caused by direct exposure of eyes to bright light. The most common form of corneal damage is a type of corneal sunburn on the clear corneal tissues. This situation is knew as flash burns or UV keratitis as it is caused by extensive exposure of eyes to intense UV lights. Flash burns are highly painful and they can cause loss of vision in the long run.

Our eyes are highly sensitive to light. Most of us are photo-sneezers which are immediately exposed to uncontrollable sneezing right after looking into the bright light. Continuous exposure to bright light can increase photosensitivity and result in the development of several vision problems in old age. Therefore, it is important to protect your eyes from bright light.

Here are some of the most useful tips which can help you in protecting your eyes from bright light:

Avoid direct eye contact:

Most of the people make the mistake of directly looking at the sun or at the tube light right after turning it on. Doing so is not a good idea as the photons escaping the light source can immediately damage your eyes if you look directly at the light source. Although the blinking reflex can help you in protecting your eyes from direct contact naturally, it is best to avoid direct contact with a bright light on a precautionary basis. You can either cover your eyes with your hand while looking at the light source or simply find a better angle of vision at which you do not have to stare back into the bright light.

Wear sunglasses:

Sunglasses are the best way to protect your eyes from bright light. Polarized sunglasses offer dual benefits of protection from bright light as well as glare reduction. Matching a pair of UV protecting sunglasses with your outfit can help you in protecting your eyes from bright sunlight on warm summer days. Sunglasses not only reflect the bright light and decrease its intensity but also work as a fashion accessory to rock your summer looks with.

Use study and other lamps:

The angle at which you use light sources such as lamps determines the extent of your eyes’ exposure to bright light. Many users make the mistake of adjusting lamps at such an angle that the light starts to interfere with their normal field of vision. Study lamps, such as the one found at Andlight, are a good option for using inside your home. These lamps are adjustable and do not interfere with your normal field of vision if adjusted correctly. You can also adjust the brightness levels of study and other lamps inside your home.

Put on a hat while going outside:

Hats are another important accessory which can help you in protecting your eyes from corneal damage. A hat with a wide brim which can cover the whole area surrounding your eyes is useful in protecting your eyes from bright light. A hat will not only prevent you from direct light exposures but also work as a fashionable accessory on warm summer days.

Minimize the brightness of electronic screens:

More than half of our day is spent looking at our smartphone screens, TV screens, and computer screens. These electronic devices have become a core part of our day to day routine and not much can be done to minimize their usage. Extremely bright electronic screens can heavily damage the normal functioning of your eyes and cause many eye problems. It is always best to go for milder screen brightness than fuller ones as it will help your eyes in adjusting with the dim light for long hours of usage.

Find ways to minimize glare:

Most of the times the major reason of bright light obstructing the vision is too much glare. From your computer screens to the mirror present in your room, glare is present on every reflective surface and it can readily disrupt your normal vision. The light coming directly from bulbs and windows of your room can easily cause glaring of reflective surfaces, including your eyewear. It is important to control the influx of light in your living space in order to minimize glare and protect your eyes from the harmful damages of bright light coming from many sources.

Be careful in selecting lighting:

Another important solution to protecting your eyes from bright light is to go for amiable lighting. Many people make the mistake of selecting the brightest bulbs or the brightest LEDs available in the market. The improper installation of too many bright lights also has a deteriorating effect on normal vision. Instead of opting for a too bright LED or bulb, go for a light source with adjustable brightness. The angle of installing these lights shall also be selected carefully.

Use eyeshields:

Eye shields are additional protective wear which is worn in conjunction with spectacles. Eye shields are actually a type of frame having protective lenses which are worn over your normal glasses for added protection against bright light and UV rays. The benefit of eye shields is that they cover the eyes from all sides so that no bright light can enter your eyes from above or sides of the eyes. You can ask your optician to help you out in selecting the right size of eye shields for protection against bright light.

Go for protective contact lenses:

If you are someone who wears contact lenses for vision correction, it is best to go for protective contact lenses instead of normal ones. The benefit of protective contact lenses is that apart from correcting your vision, they can also help you in protecting your eyes from bright light. Many eyewear companies are now offering protective lenses which specifically protect your eyes from UV rays and bright light.

Use Goggles:

Goggles have a similar eye protecting nature. The curved lenses used in goggles help in reflecting bright light in order to reduce its degree of brightness. Whenever you are taking a swim in a pool or simply spending a leisure time at the beach with your family, it is best to wear goggles in order to protect your eyes from bright sunlight. Goggles also help in reducing glare caused by the striking of bright light on a clear, reflective surface of the water. This will also help you in attaining a clearer vision.