man and grandson wearing eye protection while cutting wood

Jose Luis Pelaez Inc

How Much Do You Know About Protecting Your Eyes?

Take our quiz on how everyday habits and choices can affect your vision

Kim Painter,

AARP

En español

Published August 05, 2022

10 Questions

53f14159-9153-4e8c-b3f0-adc205978732

How Much Do You Know About Protecting Your Eyes?

[ {
 "question" : "Which of these features is a must-have when choosing sunglasses?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "The darkest possible lenses",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : " Polarization",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "100 percent protection from all ultraviolet (UV) light",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : " All of the above",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The most important job of any pair of sunglasses is to protect your eyes from damaging UV radiation from the sun.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Brown or rose-colored sunglass lenses can help:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Increase ultraviolet protection",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : " Prevent eye tumors",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : " Increase contrast",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : " Reduce glare",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The color of your sunglass lenses does not affect how well they protect you from the sun’s rays. But brown or rose-colored lenses do increase visual contrast.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "You can prevent photokeratitis, a painful eye condition, by:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Wearing proper eye protection",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Wearing an eye mask to bed",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Cleaning contact lenses properly",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Using artificial tears",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Photokeratitis is basically a sunburned eye, caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation, be it natural or man-made. Welders, snow skiers and people who look at solar eclipses are all at risk, and so are people who use tanning beds. Proper eye protection, such as snow goggles or safety goggles that absorb 100 percent UV radiation, is key to prevention. \n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "When you sleep in contact lenses, your risk of eye infection:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Goes down",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Doesn’t change",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Rises up to three times",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Rises up to eight times",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The risk goes up significantly because when your eyes are closed, less tear fluid and oxygen get beneath your lenses. That can allow bacteria and other microbes to grow, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "At what age do ophthalmologists recommend healthy adults start getting comprehensive eye-health exams every year or two, even if they don’t have symptoms?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "25",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "40",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "55",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "65",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "At this age, everyone should get a comprehensive exam — a full check of your eye health that goes beyond filling eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions — at least every year or two, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. A different professional group, the American Optometric Association, recommends yearly exams starting at 65.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "To reduce your risk of eye infection, you should replace cosmetics such as mascara and eyeliner:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "After three to four months",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "After six to eight months",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "After a year",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "After the expiration date",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The longer you keep eye makeup, the more bacteria can grow, raising your risk of infection.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "Eye injuries are most likely to occur:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "At work",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "At home",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "During sporting activities",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "When opening champagne",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "Nearly half of eye injuries occur at home, most frequently among people engaged in home repair, yard work, cooking or cleaning — and only occasionally among those opening champagne bottles. More than 40 percent occur during sport and recreational activities, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology. \n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What one step could prevent or lessen the severity of 90 percent of eye injuries at job sites?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Better safety training",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "More frequent breaks",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Proper use of protective eyewear",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Better lighting",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "The exact eyewear you need — ranging from basic safety glasses to specialized glasses, goggles, face shields or helmets — depends on your job.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "What bad habit can cause dark circles under your eyes, dangerous increases in eye pressure and, in susceptible people, thinning of the cornea?\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "A lack of sleep",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Drinking too little water",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Rubbing your eyes too much",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : " Smoking",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "If you constantly rub your eyes or rub them too hard, you can break blood vessels, causing bloodshot eyes and under-eye circles. Vigorous rubbing also can increase eye pressure, which could cause nerve damage and vision loss in people with glaucoma.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
}, {
 "question" : "If you have a sty, a painful red bump on the edge of your eyelid caused by a bacterial infection, you should:\n",
 "answers" : [ {
 "answer" : "Avoid work or other public places until it heals",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "Apply warm compresses several times a day",
 "correctAnswer" : true
 }, {
 "answer" : "Apply ice packs several times a day",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 }, {
 "answer" : "See a doctor immediately",
 "correctAnswer" : false
 } ],
 "multiSelect" : false,
 "explanation" : "You can relieve the discomfort by applying a warm washcloth to the eyelid for 10 to 15 minutes at a time. If that doesn’t make you feel better after a couple of days, check in with your doctor.\n",
 "hint" : "",
 "hintLink" : "",
 "questionImgCaption" : "",
 "questionImgCredit" : ""
} ]

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How Much Do You Know About Protecting Your Eyes?

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Kim Painter is a contributing writer who specializes in health and psychology. She frequently writes for AARP's Staying Sharp and previously worked as a health reporter and columnist at USA Today.