I'm over 50 and used to spend a lot of time on the open water sailing. While not required to look at the sun, staring intently at a bright white dacron mainsail set on a sunny day was brutal. I used to do a lot of downhill skiing as well.

I'm religious about my annual eye exams since my family (mother) has macular degeneration. Hers is the hereditary type, not age related. She is classified as legally blind now and has recently had complications with cataracts. She requires assisted living but I am 1,700 miles away. So far, I'm free of any signs of MD but I still get checked every year.

My eyes are very senstive to irritants such as pollen and cigarette smoke (I've never smoked but my parents always did). I don't have Zurichs but do have polarizing sunglasses with UV coating. They work OK but it is very difficult to see an LCD screen while wearning them if the angles are wrong. Inoted that while driving my wife's hybrid car the other day. The temperature controls/radio displays totally black out if I tilt my head 30º. My cell phone and JR X9303 LCD screens do as well while wearing polarizing sunglasses.

Remember that addage - "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure?"

'Tis true, very, very true.