The Long-term Importance of UV Protection for Eye Health

You likely know that ultraviolet (UV) rays can hurt your skin and cause sunburn, wrinkles, and skin cancer. You have probably picked up that they can also harm your eyes and impair your vision, but how so? 

What Are UV Rays?

UV rays are powerful electromagnetic radiation that the sun and some artificial sources, such as tanning beds and welding machines, emit. UV rays can go deep into your skin and eyes. Your eyes can suffer from two kinds of UV rays: UVA and UVB. 

UVA rays can get to the lens and retina inside your eye, leading to cataracts, macular degeneration, and eye cancer. UVB rays can harm the cornea and conjunctiva on the surface of your eye and result in sunburn of the eye, surfer’s eye, and eye cancer.

How Can UV Rays Affect Your Eye Health?

UV rays can have both immediate and lasting impacts on your eye health. Some of the effects are:

Photokeratitis

This condition hurts a lot and happens when too many UV rays hit your eyes quickly. Your eyes become red, swollen, teary, blurry, light-sensitive, and gritty. It usually gets better in a few days, but it can raise your chance of lasting damage.

Pterygium

This is a growth of tissue that covers the white part of your eye and extends onto the cornea. UV rays, wind, dust, and dryness can cause it over time. It can cause irritation, inflammation, astigmatism, and vision loss. It may require surgery to remove it.

Cataracts

This clouding of the lens inside your eye affects your vision. It can cause blurry vision, glare, halos, reduced contrast, and difficulty seeing at night. It may require surgery to replace the lens with an artificial one.

Macular Degeneration

This condition makes the macula, the part of the retina that gives you clear central vision, wear out. Aging and UV rays can cause it. It can blur your vision, create blind spots, make reading hard, and impair your central vision. No cure exists for macular degeneration, but treatments can slow it down.

Eye Cancer

This rare condition is severe and can affect any part of your eye or eyelid. Genes and UV rays, over time, can cause it. It can change your vision, eye appearance, or eye movement. You may need surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy to treat it.

Protecting Your Eyes From UV Damage

Wear sunglasses that block all UVA and UVB rays when outside to protect your eyes from UV damage. Also, wear a wide-brimmed hat to provide your eyes greater protection. Consider the following tips while selecting sunglasses for your eyes:

• Choose shades labeled “100% UV protection” or “UV400”

• Choose sunglasses that fit well and cover your entire eye area

• Choose sunglasses that match your lifestyle and activities

• Choose sunglasses that have gray lenses for proper color recognition

• Avoid scratched or damaged sunglasses, as they may not provide adequate protection

Conclusion

UV protection is critical for your eye health. Sunglasses and hats can protect your eyes from UV damage’s short-term and long-term effects when outside. You can also visit your optometrist regularly for eye exams and checkups to monitor your eye health.

For more on the long-term importance of UV protection for eye health, visit Atlanta Eye Group at our Atlanta, Alpharetta, or Kennesaw, Georgia offices. Call (772) 272-9470 to schedule an appointment today.