Most people know about and understand the link between ultraviolet (UV) radiation and skin cancer but many people are less aware of the connection between UV radiation and eye damage.
With increasing levels of UV radiation reaching the earth’s surface, largely due to ozone layer depletion, it’s important to take precautions to protect your eyes.
UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial UV rays, can damage the eye, affecting surface tissues and internal structures, such as the cornea and lens.
In the short term, excessive exposure to UV radiation from daily activities, including reflections off of snow, pavement, and other surfaces, can burn the front surface of the eye, similar to sunburn on the skin.
The cumulative effects of spending long hours in the sun without adequate eye protection can increase the likelihood of developing the following eye disorders:
- Cataract: A clouding of the eye’s lens that can blur vision.
- Snow Blindness (Photokeratitis): A temporary but painful burn to the cornea caused by a day at the beach without sunglasses; reflections from snow, water, or concrete; or exposure to artificial light sources such as tanning beds.
- Pterygium: An abnormal growth in the corner of the eye. It can grow over the cornea, partially blocking vision, and may require surgery to be removed.
- Skin Cancer around the Eyelids: Basal cell carcinoma is the most common type of skin cancer to affect the eyelids. In most cases, lesions occur on the lower lid, but they can occur anywhere on the eyelids, in the corners of the eye, under the eyebrows, and on adjacent areas of the face.
Surprisingly, cloud cover doesn’t affect UV levels significantly. Your risk of UV exposure can be quite high even on hazy or overcast days. This is because UV is invisible radiation, not visible light, and can penetrate clouds.
UV Exposure and our children
Researchers estimate that a significant amount of lifetime exposure to UV rays may occur by age 18 and that children’s annual dose of radiation may be up to three times that of adults. Compared to their parents, children have larger pupils (allowing more light into their eyes) and clearer lenses and are outside without eye protection much more frequently and for longer periods than most adults. That’s why it’s so important to protect children’s eyes with appropriate eyewear.
The greatest amount of UV protection is achieved with a combination of:
- sunglasses that block 99–100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B rays
- a wide-brimmed hat
- for those who wear contact lenses, UV-blocking contacts
- Wrap-around sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats add extra protection because they help block UV rays from entering the eyes from the sides and above
Andrew McLeod, Optometrist, Director.
