8 Threats to the Eyes Posed by the Sun's Rays

Doctors warn: ultraviolet rays from the sun can damage the eyes even on a cloudy day.

Longing for the sun, we forget about the dangers it poses. If we can cover the skin with clothes and apply sunscreen, we should also take care of the eyes. An eye clinic specialist explains the threat the summer sun poses to the eyes.

What Happens in the Sun?

After 40 minutes in bright sunlight without sunglasses, the eyes get as tired as after two hours spent in front of the television or the computer. Ultraviolet rays of the sun penetrate the cornea of the eye, reach deeper inside and, filtered by the lens, can reach the retina.

A person whose eyes are damaged by ultraviolet (UV) rays complains of intense eye pain, watering, fear of light, worsened vision and great tension of the eye muscles. First aid in that case is cold artificial tear drops, a cool compress on the eyelids and darkness.

Eyes exposed to the sun for a long time can become seriously ill. As many as 8 threats to the eyes are counted that are caused by the sun's rays or whose development they can influence.

1. Photokeratitis, or snow blindness — an acute condition of the cornea that shows itself through sharp pain, watering, spasm of the eyelids and fear of light. It develops from looking directly at the sun without special glasses, or from reflections.

2. Corneal damage and burns. The cornea filters the UV rays entering the eye and over time can be damaged. A corneal burn is the consequence of a short but extremely intense exposure to UVB rays, which can even cause temporary blindness.

3. Cataract. The risk factors of this disease are a person's older age and the effect of UV rays. It is estimated that 10 per cent of all cataract cases are directly related to UV rays. Like the cornea, the lens filters the UV rays entering the eye and over time it can yellow, and a cataract can begin to develop.

4. Retinal damage, or age-related macular degeneration. Degeneration of the macula (the yellow spot) is a chronic disease and the main cause of age-related blindness. However, retinal damage can also be caused by the sun's rays. We have all heard about people who suffered while watching a solar eclipse without proper protection and filters.

5. Changes of the conjunctiva — pterygium and pinguecula. Pterygium (conjunctiva growing onto the transparent cornea), also called “surfer's eye”, threatens not only lovers of water sports but also people who spend a lot of time outdoors and in the heat of the sun. Intense rays cause irregular growth of the surface tissues of the eye. Pinguecula is a whitish-yellow bump under the conjunctiva. Most often these disorders appear in the part of the eye closer to the nose.

6. Red eyes. Red eye syndrome can be caused by various environmental irritants: polluted air, dirty water, tobacco smoke and, of course, the sun's rays.

7. Fading of colours. UV rays affect the eyes in such a way that a person starts to see some colours indistinctly, most often blue and yellow are seen poorly.

8. Skin cancer of the eyelids. The sun's rays affect the lower eyelid most of all, so the sun can cause cancer. More than ten forms of eyelid skin cancer are counted.

Surfaces Reflect the Sun

In summer, UV rays are well reflected by the surface of water and by seaside sand, so you can get burnt even while hiding under a canopy or a beach umbrella. Clouds cannot protect against UV rays either. Do not be fooled: harmful rays easily pass through haze and a thin layer of clouds.

It has been established that many surfaces reflect UV rays and thus increase their effect: snow and ice — about 80 per cent, sand and concrete — up to 25 per cent, grass — about 10 per cent, the surface of water — up to 20 per cent.

Direct sunlight harms the eyes all year round — it is not only the summer sun that is dangerous for the eyes. Therefore, when spending time at the seaside, in the mountains or enjoying a sunny winter day, you have to take care of the safety of your eyes with suitable sunglasses.

Do Only Dark Glasses Help?

Sunglasses have become a fashionable accessory and many have forgotten that their main function is to protect the eyes from dangerous UV rays. However, to protect the eyes it is necessary not only to wear sunglasses, but also headwear with wide brims and caps with a peak.

Some special clear plastic spectacle lenses (worn by people with refractive errors) provide protection against harmful UV rays, but certainly not all glasses bought with a doctor's prescription can protect the eyes from the damage of UV rays.

It is also important to remind that not all sunglasses block UV rays completely. When buying glasses, do not be misled by how dark their lenses are — a dark lens does not yet mean that it fully blocks the ultraviolet rays harmful to the eye.

Is Only the Sun Dangerous for the Eyes?

Wind, dust, sand or other foreign bodies, dirty sea or lake water can irritate the eyes, cause inflammation, redness and watering. The symptoms of dry eye disease can also be provoked in summer by dry indoor air caused by air conditioners in the office, the car or the aeroplane.

A dry environment and low air humidity speed up the evaporation of tears from the surface of the eye, and when the tear film is thin and uneven, the complaints typical of dry eye disease appear — redness of the eyes, itching, burning, the feeling of a foreign body or even watering.

Do not forget to visit an eye specialist at least once every two years and have your eyes checked.