UV contact lenses are an important part of the eye care regimen. They provide extra protection to the eyes by blocking ultraviolet rays, which can damage your eyes and even cause cataract formation.
Your doctor will be able to recommend the right type of UV contact lens for you based on your individual needs. Some UV contact lenses are designed to block a wide range of harmful wavelengths, while others focus on specific types of radiation.
There are many different types of UV lenses, including FDA Class 1 and Class 2 contact lenses that can absorb 90% to 99% of the sun’s damaging rays. These can protect your eyes from the sun’s UVA and UVB rays, which can cause skin cancer, dryness, cataracts and other eye conditions.
Some UV contact lenses are also designed to block the blue light spectrum, which can disrupt your natural sleep patterns and affect your hormones. They can be a great option for people who are struggling with insomnia or who have low energy levels due to depression or anxiety.
A new study reveals that blocking UV light through contact lenses can maintain your macular pigment density and help protect your vision.
Researchers examined the effect of UV-blocking contact lenses on macular pigment in eye cultures and found that the level of macular pigment was significantly higher in cells exposed to the UV-blocking lens than those treated with a non-UV-blocking contact lens or no lens at all.
During the test, each group of cells was incubated with either AbsorbMax film (an adhesive material that blocks UV light from Sigma, Munich, Germany) or ACUVUE OASYS contact lenses (senofilcon A), a contact lens that is designed to block both UVA and UVB rays. The cells were then incubated with the UV-blocking contact lenses for 24 h and the control group for another 24 h.
When looking for a UV lens, it’s important to look for one that is specifically labeled as a Class 1 or Class 2 blocker. The lenses should have a minimum of 90% blockage of both UVA and UVB, with UVA-blocking contact lenses absorbing more of the sun’s harmful rays.
The FDA also regulates the thickness of the center of the contact lens. It must be at least 3 mm thick to be classified as a Class 1 or Class 2 blocker.
These thicker centers are important because they allow the contact lens to absorb more of the harmful UV rays that enter the eyes. Several studies have shown that thinner contacts have less UV-blocking potential than thicker ones.
It’s also important to know that UV-blocking contact lenses don’t completely cover the eye and surrounding area, so you should wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection along with your contact lenses. This is especially important if you’re participating in activities that require prolonged exposure to the sun.