Dr. Mark Kimpel, an Indiana University research doctor and ophthalmologist, says he really doesn’t care for the photo of night vision damage you see here; he says it doesn’t show what night vision loss is really like. He asks us to describe night vision loss this way. “While you are driving at night, you’ll still see the yellow stripe on the road. What you won’t see is the kid on the bike.”

Do you know that UV overexposure—from both indoor tanning without eye protection and outdoor sun over-exposure without sunglasses—is the main culprit in causing night vision loss?

Did you realize there is no drug or surgery to regain your night vision once you’ve lost it?

Do you know that it’s not unusual for teens who tan indoors without eye protection to have already lost substantial night vision?

How do we lose our night vision? Many tanners are worried about “raccoon eyes” or tan lines around their eyes, so they skip wearing eye protection altogether, instead of adjusting their goggles slightly during a session to minimize tan lines. Some folks recommend switching types of eyewear—changing goggle brands and switching to disposable eyewear every other tan—to avoid tan lines. Some tanners tell me they take off their eyewear for the last few minutes of their tanning session. I’m not advocating this idea, as I don’t think it’s worth the risk, but I’d rather have a tanner wear their eye protection for 17 minutes than not wear it at all.

Exposure to natural sunlight also causes night vision loss. Many folks skip wearing sunglasses in the bright sun while at the beach, working in the yard or playing sports. UV radiation is increased near reflective surfaces such as water, pavement (ball courts) or snow. That’s why skiers wear UV-block reflective goggles—to protect their eyes from the UV and the glare. You’ll want to make sure your sunglasses are labeled “UV 400” or “UVA and UVB block.” Even many expensive sunglasses are just tinted and don’t protect your eyes from the damaging UV rays.

Remember, there is no cure for night vision loss! So, wear eye protection when you climb into that nice, warm tanning bed and share this article with your tanners, so they will also “see that kid on the bike” for a long timto come.