How Does UV Light Damage Eyes?
Whether the sun is shining bright or hidden behind the clouds, UV light is something we should always be aware of. It’s usually something we would associate with skincare, but exposure to UV light can also potentially be harmful to our eyes.
Taking proper precautions to keep your eyes safe from UV damage regardless of the weather is important for lowering your risk of developing associated eye health problems, such as photokeratitis, cataracts or macular degeneration.
So, what is UV light, how does it affect our eyes and what can we do to minimise the effects of it? In this blog, we’ll be covering everything you need to know about protecting your eyes from UV all year round.
What is UV light?
Ultraviolet, or UV is a type of electromagnetic radiation that comes from the sun. There are three main categories, including UVA, UVB and UVC rays.
- UVC rays are the most powerful, and as such could be the most harmful to our eyes. Fortunately though, our eyes are never exposed to this type of UV because the Earth’s ozone layer acts as a protective barrier and blocks it from reaching our environment.
- UVB rays aren’t as strong and are only partially filtered by the ozone layer, meaning they can still pass through the atmosphere and reach our eyes.
- UVA rays are those we are most exposed to. They don’t get filtered out by the ozone layer. So, when we talk about UV light damaging our eyes, most often we’ll be referring to UVA light rays, although it’s important to remember that in some cases damage can still be caused by UVB.
How does UV light damage eyes?
Most people are aware of how UV can affect the skin, but when it comes to the eyes, fewer might understand the importance of protecting them from UV. In fact, the eyes can be 10 times more sensitive than the skin to problems caused by UV exposure. [Source: Met Office]
Exposure to UV radiation could result in changes to different parts of the eyes, including the eye’s surface, cornea, lens and the back of the eye called the retina.
UV light has the potential to cause eye health problems but these electromagnetic rays cannot be seen by the naked eye, because they are not part of the visible spectrum of light. Yet they contain a lot of energy and when the cells of our eyes are exposed to these UV rays, they can become damaged, causing certain eye diseases.
What is photokeratitis?
As we’ve mentioned, just as skin can become damaged from UV light from a period of sunbathing for example, the eyes can be similarly affected. The term ‘photokeratitis’ is used to describe the sunburn-like damage typically affecting the cornea – the thin, clear layer at the front of your eye.
Photokeratitis can develop from sunlight reflected by sand, water, snow, ice, and even concrete, although you can also get it from staring directly at the sun. You should never look directly at the sun, which is why indirect ways of looking at a solar eclipse are recommended.
Just as when your skin gets sunburnt, you might not notice the symptoms until the damage is done. Some of the common symptoms to look out for include pain, blurry vision, redness, sensitivity to bright light, grittiness, halos in vision, and watery eyes. The longer your eyes are exposed to UV rays, the more severe your symptoms may be.
Certain occupations and leisure activities that involve using UV light, such as using sunbeds, can also put you at risk of photokeratitis, which is why it is important to wear the right safety eyewear such as sunglasses.
Eye health problems that are linked to UV light exposure
Alongside photokeratitis, there are a few other eye problems that can be linked to UV light exposure. The following can be associated with prolonged and excessive UV light exposure:
- Cataracts: This is a condition that causes the lens of the eye to become cloudy. It occurs when the protein in the eye’s lens break down and clump together. One exacerbating factor of cataracts is overexposure to UV light, which is why it’s important to protect you eyes.
- Growths: This can include pingueculae and pterygium, both of which are growths on the conjunctiva of the eye. Pingueculae are small, yellow bumps that appear on the inner or outer white part of the eye, while pterygium is a raised growth that is more white or pink, starting in the corner of the eye and possibly going onto the cornea over the coloured part of the eye. Both can be caused by long-term exposure to UV light, and can be irritating or affect your vision if they grow too much.
- Eye cancers: Also known as eye melanoma, this occurs when abnormal cells grow. It is very rare, but in some cases UV radiation can contribute to conjunctival melanoma, just as UV light can increase the risk of skin cancer. Cancers can also occur on the eyelids so it is important to look out for any new lumps or bumps appearing on the skin as well as the eye’s surface.
Your likelihood of developing any of these eye conditions or problems can be significantly reduced by simply protecting your eyes from UV light as much as possible.
How to protect your eyes from UV light
Avoiding damage to your eyes from UV light can be relatively simple. The following tips can help you properly protect your eyes and reduce the risk of any of the issues mentioned above.
Wear sunglasses
Wearing sunglasses that can provide adequate UV protection is important for preventing damage. Look out for a pair marked with ‘CE’ and British Standard BS EN ISO 12312-1:2013, since these ensure that the lenses offer a safe level of UV protection. The sunglasses ought to carry the label “UV400” which demonstrates that the lenses filter UV rays up to 400nm, which is the full range of UV light.
It’s also worth remembering that UV can be strong even on overcast days, so checking the UV levels before heading out and wearing your sunglasses can help keep your eyes safe all year round, not just during the summer. If you are a spectacle wearer, you might want to have photochromatic spectacle lenses which are normally clear when you are indoors, and they darken into a sunglass-like tint when outdoors. In fact, some manufacturers include a UV filter in their clear lenses, so you can ask your optician for these when you next buy a pair of spectacles.
Wear a wide-brimmed hat for extra protection
A hat with a wide brim can help block UV light from affecting your eyes since it can act as a barrier. But it’s also worth noting that you should still wear sunglasses since they’re made especially to protect the eyes from harm. Adding this extra layer of protection is especially worthwhile when UV levels are higher.
Key things to remember about UV light and your eyes
What are the key things you need to remember when it comes to UV light and your eyes? We’ve summarised the bits to keep in mind below:
- Your eyes require protection all year round, not just in the summer months
- UV light can cause damage to your eyes regardless of your age. When we are younger we are more susceptible to UV damage but it isn’t till later life that we see the effects
- The skin around the eyes can experience damage from UV light, not just the eyes themselves
We hope this guide has helped you gain a better understanding of how UV light works and the effects it can have on your eyes. By using the tips listed here, you can take steps to protect you eye health and keep your eyes safe.
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