Unexpected Risks
Recent research has shown that the time of maximum risk for UVR damage to the eyes is very diferent from the time of maximum risk to the skin. Risk to the skin is greatest when the sun is highest in the sky—ie, at solar noon and on the summer solstice (June 21st). But because the eyes are deep set in the orbit, they are partially protected when the sun is high in the sky; so direct ocular UVR exposure is greatest when the sun is somewhat lower in the sky. For spring, summer, and fall, maximum ocular UVR exposure occurs between 8:00am and 10:00am, and between 2:00pm and 4:00pm. These, however, are not the times that people are most likely to wear sunglasses. Side and Back Exposure Even when the sun is high in the sky, the eye is exposed to a significant amount of UVR that is scattered by clouds or reflected by surrounding surfaces that is indirect. Radiation is responsible for nearly half of the UVR we receive.
What Patients Need
Knowing what we now do about sources of UVR exposure, it becomes apparent that for everyday protection, clear lenses and sun lenses must offer UVR blocking of both transmission and reflection. To address this need, a new generation of Crizal® No-Glare lenses has been engineered to virtually eliminate UVR reflection from the backside, for a lens that truly maximizes UVR protection.
All Crizal UV products will now have an E-SPF rating of 25 while Crizal Sun Shield on a polarized lens will have an E-SPF rating of 50.
