Protecting Your Eyes from Solar Radiation—UV Light Submitted by Andeen Raymond Author: American Optometric Association

Dawson County

Health Department News

O rgan i zat i on N am e

Inside this issue:

UV (cont.) 2

4th of July Recipes 3

Gardasil 9 2

Inside Story 4

Healthy Swimming 5

Disney/Marlboro 6

Calendar 7

Volume , Issue July 2016

207 W. Bell

Glendive, MT 59330

Tel: (406)377-5213

Website:

dawsoncountymontana.com

Public Health:

Tel: (406)377-5213

WIC Program:

Tel: (406)377-5215

Home Health:

Tel: (406)377-5213

Family Planning:

Tel: (406)377-2935

Tobacco Prevention:

Tel: (406)345-4117

The sun supports life on our planet, but its life-

giving rays also pose dangers. The sun's pri-

mary danger is in the form of ultraviolet (UV)

radiation. Artificial sources, like welding ma-

chines, tanning beds and lasers, can also pro-

duce UV radiation.

Most people are aware of how harmful UV

radiation is to the skin. However, many may

not realize that UV radiation can harm the

eyes, and other components of solar radiation

can also affect vision.

There are three types of UV radiation. UV-C

is absorbed by the ozone layer and does not

present any threat. However, UV-A and UV-B

radiation can have long- and short-term neg-

ative effects on the eyes and vision.

If your eyes are exposed to excessive

amounts of UV radiation over a short period

of time, you will likely experience pho-

tokeratitis. Like a "sunburn of the eye," pho-

tokeratitis can be painful. Its symptoms include

red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty

feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light

and excessive tearing. Fortunately, these

symptoms are usually temporary and rarely

cause permanent damage to the eyes.

The longer the eyes are exposed to solar

radiation, the greater the risk of developing

cataracts or macular degeneration later in

life. It is not clear how much exposure to solar

radiation will cause damage. Therefore,

whenever you spend time outdoors, wear

quality sunglasses that offer UV protection

and a hat or cap with a wide brim. Also, cer-

tain contact lenses can

provide additional UV

protection.

To provide adequate

protection for your

eyes, sunglasses should:

•block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A

and UV-B radiation;

•screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light;

•have lenses that are perfectly matched in

color and free of distortion and imperfection;

and

(Continued on page 2)

Cord Blood Awareness Month

Eye Injury Prevention Month

International Group B Strep Awareness Month

Juvenile Arthritis Awareness Month

UV Safety Month

July 4—Independence Day

July 28--World Hepatitis Day

July 30--National Support Public Education Day

Protecting Your Eyes from Solar Radiation—UV Light (cont.)

Lenses that absorb harmful

blue light but allow benefi-

cial blue light through your

lenses are entering the mar-

ketplace. You could also

apply a special clear coat-

ing to traditional lenses to

enhance their ability to block

these harmful rays while you

use computers and

smartphones.

UV Radiation Checklist

If you can answer "yes" to

one or more of the following

questions, you could be at

higher risk for harm to the

eyes from UV radiation:

•Do you spend a great deal

of time outdoors?

•Do you spend time skiing,

mountain climbing or at the

•have lenses that are gray

for proper color recognition.

If you participate in poten-

tially eye-hazardous out-

door work or sports, your

sunglass lenses should be

made from polycarbonate

or Trivex® material. These

lenses provide the most im-

pact resistance.

If you spend a lot of time

outdoors in bright sunlight,

consider wearing wrapa-

round frames for additional

protection from the harmful

solar radiation.

Don't forget protection for

children and teenagers.

They typically spend more

time in the sun than adults.

Protecting Your Eyes from

Shorter-Wavelength Visible

Light

Chronic exposure to shorter-

wavelength visible light

(blue and violet light) may

also be harmful to the reti-

(Continued from page 1) na. Many digital devices

emit this shorter-wavelength

visible light.

Blue light is part of the visi-

ble light spectrum. The sun

emits blue light, as do artifi-

cial light sources, such as

LEDs, computers and

smartphones. Some types of

blue light can be beneficial,

helping us regulate our bod-

ies' internal biological clocks.

However, blue-violet light

can be harmful to the eyes,

specifically the retina. It is a

risk factor for the onset of

age-related macular degen-

eration, a deterioration of

the part of the retina re-

sponsible for sharp, central

vision.

A recent study found that

Americans spend almost 2 ½

hours on their tablets and

smartphones every day. In

addition, most offices and

stores use fluorescent light

bulbs, and LED lights are

becoming increasingly popu-

lar.

Dawson County Health Department Newsletter Page 2

beach?

•Do you use a sunlamp or

tanning parlor?

•Do you live in the mountains

or the U.S. Sunbelt?

•Are you a welder, medical

technologist or do you work

in the graphic arts or in the

manufacture of electronic

circuit boards?

•Have you had cataract

surgery in one or both eyes?

•Do you take prescription or

over-the-counter drugs that

can increase your sensitivity

to UV radiation? (If you are

unsure, check with your op-

tometrist, pharmacist or phy-

sician.)

See your doctor of optome-

try every year for a com-

prehensive eye examination.

It is a good way to monitor

your eye health, maintain

good vision and keep track

of your solar radiation pro-

tection needs, as well as

advances in eye protection.

4th of July Recipe Ideas

4th of July Berry Trifle Recipe

Ingredients:

one angel food cake cut into 1 inch cubes

1 pint heavy whipping cream

1/2 cup powdered sugar

1 package (3.4 ounces) instant vanilla pudding mix

1 cup milk

1 pint fresh blueberries

1 quart fresh strawberries, sliced

Using an electric mixer, mix milk and pudding mix for 2 minutes. Let stand for a few minutes until it starts to

set. In a large bowl, beat cream on high speed until it begins to thicken. Add confectioners’ sugar and continue

beating until soft peaks form. Fold into the pudding. To assemble the trifle, layer half the cake cubes, half of the

blueberries, half the pudding mixture, and half of the strawberries. Repeat. Decorate with flag and star picks if

desired.

Page 3 Volume , Issue

Dawson County Health Department Newsletter Page 4

Page 5 Volume , Issue

Something's wrong with this picture: The Walt Disney Company

owns a major stake in VICE Media, a youth-oriented media com-

pany. The Financial Times and other news outlets recently report-

ed that VICE has been helping Philip Morris International – maker

of Marlboro cigarettes – market its deadly products to young

people around the world.

It's highly irresponsible for VICE to use its expertise in youth mar-

keting to help the tobacco industry sell more of its deadly prod-

ucts around the world. And Disney shouldn't be associated with

companies that act in a socially irresponsible manner and con-

tribute to the global tobacco epidemic.

Services Provided by the Health Department

We are on the Web!

www.dawsoncountymontana.com/departments/publichealth

If you would like to be on the mailing list for this monthly publication or submit an article for the next month, please e-mail Laureen Murphree at

murphreel@dawsoncountymail.com

Immunizations: Adults and children, Tuesdays:1:30-4:30 and

Thursdays: 9:00-11:30 and 1:30-5:30. Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule

an appointment call 377-5213.

Insurance Billing: Yes, the Dawson County Health Department does

bill insurance for children’s immunizations.

WIC (Women, Infants and Children): Tuesdays 1:00-5:00 and

Thursdays 8:00-12:00. Appointments may be made by calling 377-5215.

Family Planning: Walk in hours are Mondays 1:00-5:00, Tuesdays

8:00-12:00, Wednesdays 1:00-5:00, Thursdays 1:00-5:00 and Fridays 10:00

-12:00 & 1:00-3:00. Services are based on a sliding fee scale. To schedule

an appointment call 377-2935.

Blood Pressure Clinics: Thursdays from 9:00-11:30—no charge.

Cholesterol Clinics: 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month 9:00-11:30.

Cost $15—requires 12 hour fast.

Home Health Services: In home services including skilled nursing.

Certified Nurse Assistant, Homemaker and Meals on Wheels. Call 377-

5213 for more information or to make a referral.

Public Health Home Visiting: Home visiting program for pregnant

women, infants and children. Services help to build parental resilience,

social connections, knowledge of parenting and child development, concrete

supports in times of need and social and emotional competence of children.

Tobacco Prevention: Preventing tobacco use among youth and

promote quitting among adult users. Free signs for CIAA compliance.

Public Health Emergency Preparedness: Planning and

coordination of community resources to prepare for public health

emergencies.

Disney must cut ties with Big Tobacco Submitted by Laureen Murphree Author: Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

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