Tanning Goggles: Importance of Eye Protection While Indoor Tanning
Posted: Tuesday, February 26, 2008
by Aaron Andrews
Tan Indoors
Though tanning can be a relaxing and therapeutic way to escape the everyday stresses of life, it is very important to follow the safety rules set forth by the FDA. Most tanning salons provide eye protection while using their facilities; though each method differs. Some salons give you strap on tanning goggles with highly tinted viewing holes, while others will give you a set of disposable aluminum tanning goggles (one for each eye).
There are many reasons you should wear eye protection in the tanning bed. The use of eye protection while in a tanning booth is just as important as wearing sunglasses on a really sunny day. Ultraviolet, UV, rays can severely damage your eyes and cause many problems later in life. Like sunglasses, the tanning goggles provided by the tanning salon will block 100% of the damaging UV rays. UV rays can cause things as insignificant as eye irritation to more dangerous problems like cataracts and macular degeneration.You might ask yourself "Why not just keep your eyes closed?" Actually, eyelids only protect about 25% of UV rays from your eyes. This can cause short term damage to your eyes. Some of the symptoms included: Red, itchy or watery eyes may be an indication of short-term damage, which means that your eyes have been sunburned.
While protecting the eye, itself, may seem important, it is just as important to protect the skin around your eyes. Long term exposure to UV rays can damage the fragile skin cells protecting your eyes. Too much unprotected exposure to UV rays can cause premature aging and wrinkles.
If you're concerned about sanitation and cleanliness, you don't have to use the tanning goggles provided by the salon. You may actually purchase your own. Many tanning salons sell eye protection directly to their customers for just this reason. This can help assure that the protection you are using is completely free of germs and other eye related diseases that can be spread from customer to customer; ie. Pink eye.
So, next time you go out for a relaxing 20 minute nap in a tanning bed, make sure you use or bring your own eye protection. I'm sure you agree that a glowing tan is not worth the possibility of losing your eye sight.
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Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)Thanks for the info Aaron. There are still those who innocently do not realize you need eye protection - especially teens - slipped through the cracks on proper information/directions. Being a mom, I'm worried about the possible eye damage they have incurred. Praying they are ok.
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