• PHOTOKERATITIS: This is an inflammation of the cornea, like sunburn to the sensitive skin-like tissues of the eyeball,

• PINGUECULA: This is a yellowish growth that forms near the cornea, thought to be caused by ultraviolet light. A condition prevalent among those who spend a large amount of time working or playing outdoors.

• SNOWBLINDNESS: Skiers and mountain climbers who spend a lot of time on high altitudes may suffer this. This is also a condition caused by extreme UV levels and strong ground reflections. In this scenario, the outer cells of the eye balls are killed, which may lead to a loss of sight.

• CATARACT: This is a situation where the natural lens turns cloudy. People don't realise that over exposure to sunlight can increase the likelihood of developing cataract in old age. And although the sun's UV rays have not been proven to cause myopia, it is important to protect the eyes against the sun from a young age as 80% of total lifetime sun exposure occurs before the age of 18.

ENJOY THE OUTDOORS, but do bear in mind that sunlight can cause severe damage to your eyes, so always wear the right type of eye protection.

Golfers especially, are exposed to excessive sunlight and the outdoor condition is often aggravated by wind and dirt. Eye care is important to prevent potential damage to your eyes while you're out on the greens.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is known to cause various types of problems to your eyes and your skin. Chronic exposure to UV radiation can result in cataract formation, which causes your natural lens to turn cloudy, resulting in blurring of vision. Pterygium, a fleshy growth, usually on the inner corner of the eye, is also known to be associated with excessive UV radiation exposure. This can cause irritation and visual impairment. More profoundly, UV radiation can also cause damage to the macula, the most crucial part of your retina, resulting in loss of central vision.

Reflection from grass

The actual amount of UV rays reaching a golfer's eye is increased by the reflection from the earth's surface. It is almost 10 times more important to protect your eyes at noon than during other hours of the day. As we go to higher altitude, the radiation is also increased to the extent of 16% for every 1000 meters above sea level.

Specially designed sunglasses for golfers are necessary to shield off the damaging effects of the sun and also the wind and debris while enjoying golf. It should ideally provide 100% protection from UV radiation. A lens that absorbs blue light will help to read greens better and follow the ball in flight. Brown or amber lenses can increase contrast. Some people prefer more natural vision and lenses that do not distort. If you wear bi-focal or progressive lenses, special designs allow you to see your scorecard, but not be bothered by distortion when putting or driving the ball.

Eye shields

A frequent golfer should choose eyewear that gives 100% UV protection. Even with that, a hat to shield the glare is also a good idea.

Cool vision

The Maui Jim Collection from Paris Miki does the "squinting" for you. It cuts glare and gives the wearer a cool look. The polarising filter in the lens absorbs up to 99.9% of reflected glare and that's as good as it gets. Choose from three lenses - rose, neutral grey or bronze. For everyday wear, neutral grey should do just fine. It cuts glare and is suitable for all light conditions.

A good and comfortable frame fit is ideal when playing golf. Poor fit can slide off the nose and distract the golfer during his swing. A small frame size can also interfere with the direct gaze of the ball. Slightly oversized frames and glasses without a bottom frame will allow the golfer to follow the ball after the swing without such interference with the glasses.

As the old saying goes, "Prevention is better than cure." So, preventing any potential injury to the eyes during outdoor games will help us enjoy the game better and will also ensure that we continue to have good eyesight.