| Reply 1 : Most of us are aware of skin cancer risks and slather up our bodies with sunscreen. But do you know that the sun’s rays affect your eyes too? The sun’s dazzling light is uncomfortableto look at directly and makes you teary-eyed. But it is the
invisible Ultra Violet (UV) rays of the sun that damage the eyes.
Some eye problems that sun rays can cause are:
· - Photo-keratitis: UV rays can cause eye burn by burning the cornea of the eyes, very much like they cause sunburn on the skin. Such short-term damage is termed as Photo Keratitis, which causes temporary blindness. Artificial sources of UV radiation such as tanning beds can also cause Photo-keratitis. An affected person can regain vision if he or she remains indoors (or away from the UV source) and rests his eyes for some time. However, any blindness or distortion in vision should be assessed by an eye doctor because eyes are too delicate and too precious for us.
· - If you expose unprotected eyes to UV rays repeatedly, the damage adds up over time. Long term damage to the eyes due to the sun’s UV rays is more extensive and involves eye disease. Some such eye diseases are:
· - Cancer of the skin on/around the eyes: Similar to how skin cancer can develop elsewhere, cancer can also develop on the skin around the eyes. This can happen because of exposure to strong UV radiation and/or long-term exposure. Skin cancer of the eyelids, in fact, accounts for five to ten percent of all skin cancers. (Cook BE Jr. Bartley GB. Nov 2001, Ophthalmology, 108(11)).
The most common symptoms of skin cancer around eyes are a mass or a scar-like tissue formation along the eyelids, or ingrown eyelashes. It is difficult to treat skin cancer on the area around eyelids because the skin is so delicate there. However, some specialized surgeries are available which can cure such cancers, if treated early.
· - Cataract and Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) are diseases of the eye that commonly occur in old age.
Cataract caused clouding of the eye lens leading to blurred vision. AMD results from abnormal growth on the macula (the interior tissue in the retina) and affects vision perception.
Though these eye diseases are related to old age, these diseases are more common in people with a history of unprotected eye exposure to the sun. (Reference 1: Cecile Delcourt et al. March 2000, Archives Of Ophthalmology Vol.118 No.3). Therefore, exposure to UV rays may cause or increase the risk of age-related eye diseases.
· - Corneal Lesions: Sometimes, UV rays also cause non-cancerous corneal lesions. Though these are benign (cancers are
malignant form of lesions or tumors), they look unsightly and may obstruct vision. They may even lead to blindness if neglected for too long.
How to prevent eye damage from the Sun?
· - Sunglasses are the best devices to shield your eyes from the harmful UV rays. Wear them whenever you are outdoors.
Rather than looking for ornate or fashionable ones, always choose sunglasses with reliable labeling that says 99 to 100 percent of broad-spectrum UV protection. Your optometrist should be adept at attesting the UV blocking effectiveness of the sunglasses.
· - Wear a wide-brimmed hat to protect your eyes from overhead sun.
· - Never look at the sun directly. If sunglasses or hats are not within reach, use your hands to shield your eyes when you have to look up towards the sun.
· - Sunscreen can get into the eyes when rubbed along the eyelids and sting, which is why may people forgo applying
sunscreen to the eye area. But it is very important to apply sunscreen to the skin around the eyes too. Rather than rubbing it in, just dab it lightly.
· - Try and avoid sun exposure when UV rays are the strongest. This is typically between 10 am and 4 pm. But UV rays also differ in intensity according to season, latitude or altitude. They are stronger in the summer, in places near the equator and at high altitudes.
· - Watch out for troublesome sores, lesions, scars or growths in the eye region. Consult a doctor as soon as you notice something unusual.
Are you at risk of eye damage due to sunrays?
All of us are at risk of eye damage from the sun. But sports people, farmers and laborers who need to spend a lot of time outdoors are at a greater risk. Apart from that, UV rays become stronger when they bounce off snow or water. This puts skiers, beach surfers and fishermen at an elevated risk.
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