Dangers of Prolonged UV Exposure to the Eye

While many people recognize the dangers of UV rays on the skin, there is little information about their effects on the eyes. Ultraviolet radiation is electromagnetic radiation that mostly comes from the sun. Still, the sun is not the only source of UV light. Artificial sources of UV rays are all around us, including sunlamps, sunbeds, welding torches, and plasma torches, among many others.

 

Wearing hats, applying sunscreen, and wearing long-sleeved protective clothes prevent your skin from UV light. How, then, do you protect your eyes? Sunglasses may be the obvious answer, but not all are created equal. It’s important to get sunglasses properly equipped with UV protection. Just as UV light causes skin cancer, it also leads to severe visual problems like:

 

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration results from injury to the retina over time. AMD is the leading cause of old-age blindness. UV light ages the eye's structures, including the retina, making it one of the reasons behind macular degeneration. It usually affects the person's central vision and can lead to loss or blurry vision.

 

People aged 50 and above are at significant risk of macular degeneration. Treatment and surgery can help manage this disease, but it is not curable.

 

Cataracts

A person with cataracts often presents cloudiness in their eye. The condition is usually the result of the breakdown of proteins and fibers in the eye, leading to a cloudy formation. UV light causes the breakdown of these fibers and proteins.

These clouds occupy the eye's clear lens, leading to difficulty in vision, especially at night. People who have cataracts usually feel like they are constantly looking through a frosty-cloudy window. Some symptoms include:

 

• Light sensitivity

• Blurry visions

• Seeing halos

• Layered visions
  
   

Cataracts are treatable through surgery.

 

Pterygium

A pterygium is the mucous membrane growth on the white part of the eye and spreads to the cornea. It takes the shape of a wedge and is noncancerous. It affects people who spend most of their time in the sun.

 

Some believe that too much exposure to UV light leads to the growth of pterygium. The growth lump is usually painless, but it may cause irritation to the patient. Some of its symptoms include:

 

• Redness

• Blurred vision

• Irritation

• A burning sensation or itchiness

Pterygium is treatable by wetting the eyes with prescribed eye drops.

Photokeratitis

Photokeratitis is a temporary eye condition like a sunburn. It is usually excruciating and caused by exposure to ultraviolet rays. It affects the eyes' corneas and lasts a couple of hours to days. People at risk of getting photokeratitis like to spend most of their time outdoors in the sun, use sunlamps, tanning beds, or live at higher altitudes. They usually have greater exposure to UV light without proper protection.

 

Some symptoms of photokeratitis include blurry vision, redness and pain in the eyes, teary eyes, and light sensitivity, among many others. Photokeratitis usually goes away by itself. A cold washcloth usually does the trick if one still experiences much discomfort. If the symptoms persist, your doctor can prescribe eye drops.

 

Most of these diseases are preventable by wearing sunglasses while outside. One can also use protective glasses while welding and limit the amount of UV light exposure.

For more on the dangers of UV light on the eyes, visit Planet Vision Eyecare at our office in Lake Worth, Florida, or call (561) 556-4600 to book an appointment today.
 

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