You slather sunscreen all over your body before you hit the beach or spend long leisure hours in the sun.
But while you may remember to protect your skin from the harmful rays of the sun, you often forget one important part of your body: your eyes.
The same ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage your skin can also put you at risk of developing eye problems.
Depletion of the protective ozone layer, which acts as the planet's sunscreen, means that we are all exposed to even greater amounts of UV radiation.
One condition that has been linked to exposure of UV light is pterygium, a tissue growth on the whites of the eyes.
A study in the American Journal Of Ophthalmology found the prevalence of pterygium in Singapore to be 7 per cent among Chinese men aged over 40.
Dr Steve Seah, a senior consultant at Excellence Eye & Lasik Centre, said: 'Pterygium usually affects those who work or play outdoors such as taxi drivers, construction workers and golfers.'
Although mostly harmless, the pterygium growth can become so large that it covers the pupil of the eye and blocks vision.
Surgery can remove the growth and the risk of it growing back is low.
Even age-related eye conditions such as macular degeneration (deterioration of the sensitive retina centre) and cataracts (clouding of the eye's lens) can be partly attributed to prolonged sun exposure without protection.
UV rays have been linked to the following eye ailments:
Pterygium
What it is: Growth of tissue on the surface of the eye.
Symptoms: Redness and feeling of having a foreign body in the eye.
Who it affects: More common in tropical climates and among those aged between 20 and 40.
How it is treated: Steroid eye drops and surgery.
Macular degeneration
What it is: Deterioration of the sensitive retina centre.
Symptoms: Some patients have no symptoms; others may experience a blind spot or patch of blurred vision.
Who it affects: Mostly the elderly.
How it is treated: Laser treatment can only prevent further damage, but not correct the problem.
Cataracts
What it is: Clouding of the eye's lens.
Symptoms: Blurring of vision that cannot be corrected by glasses, dull colours, halos around lights.
Who it affects: Mostly the elderly.
How it is treated: Stronger glasses, artificial tears, tinted lenses and cataract surgery.
Melanoma
What it is: A dangerous form of skin cancer.
Symptoms: Moles that are irregular in colour or shape.
Who it affects: Risk is higher for those with family history and with increased sun exposure.
How it is treated: Can be surgically removed; best if detected early.
Dr Peter Tseng, a senior consultant at the Singapore National Eye Centre, said: 'While early detection and treatment for macular degeneration can prevent further deterioration, the damage itself is irreversible.'
In fact, age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness among the elderly in the developed world.
Cataract surgery, on the other hand, can help those with poor sight regain their vision. Cataract operations are one of the most common at the Singapore National Eye Centre, with around 8,000 to 10,000 operations performed every year, said Dr Tseng.
The delicate skin around our eyes is also susceptible to sun damage.
Much more serious than wrinkles is melanoma, a type of skin cancer that can develop on eyelids and the sensitive skin around the eyes.
'Melanomas occur more frequently in people with fair skin. While we do see cases in Singapore, it is seen more often in countries like Australia where they have a culture of sunbathing,' said Dr Cheng Jin Fong, an associate consultant at the National University Hospital.
While most of these conditions are the result of the cumulative effect of prolonged UV exposure, intense short-term exposure can cause photokeratitis, reversible sunburn of the cornea.
Photokeratitis typically occurs at high altitudes or by exposure to highly reflective surfaces such as sea and snow.
Another type of eye damage is burns on the retina which can occur when people look directly at the sun, such as during a solar eclipse, said Dr Cheng.
This is why it is important to never look at the sun with the naked eye or through equipment such as telescopes, binoculars and even digital cameras.
In Singapore, there's even more reason to protect yurselves when you step outside.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) Global UV project states that countries close to the equator such as Singapore have higher exposure to UV rays.
Though there is quite a lot of cloud cover here, WHO says up to 80 per cent of solar UV radiation can still penetrate through the clouds.
The best way to protect your eyes against the sun is to wear the correct type of sunglasses when you're outside.
For even more sun defence, wear a wide-brimmed hat and sunscreen with SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15.
And don't listen to myths about sun damage. Doctors Mind Your Body spoke to say the harmful effects of the sun are not exacerbated if you are taking antibiotics, wearing contact lenses or have undergone Lasik surgery for vision correction.
But you should try to avoid the harshest sunlight between 10am and 4pm.
'When it comes to sun defence, every bit helps. Do every little thing possible to keep yourself safe - it all adds up to more protection,' advised Dr Cheng.
