Like many people, I wasn't very sun smart in my younger years. Back then, having strongly defined tan lines was a proud testimonial to hours logged basting ourselves in baby oil and lying on the pool lounger all summer long. Maybe even a good base burn to start the sunbathing season? Dumb, dumb, dumb.

Obviously, times have changed. We now recognize the importance of sun safety year-round, whether playing volleyball at the beach or careening down the ski slopes. Everything from my daily facial moisturizer to the product I use to clean my car's dashboard contains UV protection. 

I also wear glasses and have always made sure to get the extra UV coating on my lenses. I'm mindful to buy UV-protected sunglasses, too, ever since learning the UV rays can be damaging to eyes--not just our skin.

"Short-term effects can be hard to notice, but long-term exposure to the sun can lead to damage to the eye and surrounding tissue," explains Vishakha Thakrar, OD, FAAO, Professional Affairs, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. "The effects of UV radiation are cumulative over a person’s lifetime, and ocular disorders such as cataracts may not manifest for years, at which point the damage is already done."

This is pretty scary stuff, especially since I normally don't wear my UV-coated glasses outdoors (you wouldn't either if you constantly had to deal with fogging and icing over. Not good).

I also wear daily disposable contact lenses so I was thrilled to learn that some brands offer UV blocking including my current favourite, 1-DAY ACUVUE^® MOIST^® Brand Contact Lenses. Does your brand? You might be surprised.

Most contact lens brands don't offer UV protection; however, all ACUVUE^® Brand Contact Lenses offer effective UV blocking, including the popular ACUVUE^® OASYS^® Brand Contact Lenses which offer the highest level of UV-blocking available in a contact lens^†. It is important to remember that although UV-blocking contact lenses are beneficial in helping to protect against harmful UV rays, you should wear them with other important sun protection gear (like a wide-brimmed hat and high-quality sunglasses) as part of your sun-smart routine year-round.

The ACUVUE^® Brand has a wide range of contact lenses to suit your vision and comfort needs. Best of all, they are now offering a free* trial pair for any ACUVUE^® Contact Lens on their website so you can try before you buy!

Did you know about this issue? Let us know your fall and winter sun safety tips in the comments!

*Exam and fitting fees not included 

Important information for contact lens wearers: ACUVUE® Brand Contact Lenses are available by prescription only for vision correction. An eye care professional will determine whether contact lenses are right for you. Although rare, serious eye problems can develop while wearing contact lenses. To help avoid these problems, follow the wear and replacement schedule and the lens care instructions provided by your eye doctor. Do not wear contact lenses if you have an eye infection, or experience eye discomfort, excessive tearing, vision changes, redness or other eye problems. If one of these conditions occurs, contact your eye doctor immediately. For more information on proper wear, care and safety, talk to your eye care professional and ask for a Patient Instruction Guide, call 1-800-843-2020 or visit www.Acuvue.ca. 

†Helps protect against transmission of harmful UV radiation to the cornea and into the eye.

WARNING: UV-absorbing contact lenses are NOT substitutes for protective UV-absorbing eyewear such as UV-absorbing goggles or sunglasses because they do not completely cover the eye and surrounding area. You should continue to use UV-absorbing eyewear as directed. NOTE: Long term exposure to UV radiation is one of the risk factors associated with cataracts. Exposure is based on a number of factors such as environmental conditions (altitude, geography, cloud cover) and personal factors (extent and nature of outdoor activities). UV-Blocking contact lenses help provide protection against harmful UV radiation. However, clinical studies have not been done to demonstrate that wearing UV-Blocking contact lenses reduces the risk of developing cataracts or other eye disorders. Consult your eye care practitioner for more information.

ACUVUE®, ACUVUE® OASYS® and 1-DAY ACUVUE® MOIST® are trademarks of 
Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc. Division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc.

Dr. Vishakha Thakrar is a paid consultant for Johnson & Johnson Vision Care division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc. Canada

Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson Vision Care division of Johnson & Johnson, Inc.