Protect Your Eyes While on the Trail Your Horse

Sunglasses with shatterproof lenses can help keep your eyes safe on the trail. Shown are Oakley Fives from Oakley (www.oakley.com). Photo courtesy of Heidi Nyland.

Fall brings cooler temperatures, but the sun's rays can be strong in any season. Too much sun can literally burn your eyes over time on the trail, causing damage to your cornea (the part that transmits light) and your lens (the part of your eye that helps you focus), and causing long-term problems, such as cataracts.

To keep your eyes safe from rays while you ride on the trail with your horse, The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends wearing sunglasses that block out at least 99 percent of ultraviolet rays (the invisible rays that burn your skin) and at least 90 percent of infrared rays (the invisible rays that produce heat). Look for polarized lenses to cut down on glare, especially if you ride near water, to make it easier to see.

Also make sure your sunglasses are made from shatterproof plastic lenses-those that meet the American National Standards Institute's Z87. 1 standards. These lenses won't break into the small, sharp, eye-damaging pieces in the event of a fall or other impact.