Just Like Skin, Eyes Can 'Burn' in Strong Sun
Health experts warn sun worshippers to guard their eyes from UV exposure.
May 26 -- SUNDAY, May 25 (HealthDay News) -- Don't overlook your eyes when you're thinking about ultraviolet (UV) protection as the weather heats up, experts say.
Overexposure to the sun's UV rays has been linked to a number of eye problems, such as age-related cataracts, pterygium, photokeratitis and corneal degenerative changes, according to the American Optometric Association (AOA).
These conditions can cause blurred vision, irritation, redness, tearing, temporary vision loss and, in some cases, blindness.
"Just as skin is 'burned' by UV radiation, the eye can also suffer damage. The lesson -- especially for young people -- is that eyes need protection, too. Protection can be achieved by simple, safe and inexpensive methods such as wearing a brimmed hat and using eyewear that properly absorbs UV radiation," Gregory Good, a member of AOA's commission on ophthalmic standards, said in a prepared statement.
Children and teens are particularly susceptible to sun-related eye damage, because they typically spend more time outdoors than adults, and the lenses of their eyes are more transparent than those of adults, which means that more harmful light can reach the retina.
But it appears many people still don't fully understand the danger the UV rays pose to eyes.
A 2007 AOA survey found that 40 percent of Americans don't think UV protection is an important factor to consider when buying sunglasses. The survey also found that 61 percent of Americans buy sunglasses for their children, but 23 percent don't check if the lenses provide protection against UV rays.
The AOA offers the following advice about sunglasses:
More information
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about sun exposure.
SOURCE: American Optometric Association, news release, May 2008