It is well known that our skin needs protection from scorching sun rays, but what few people realize is that the effects of these rays can be even more harmful to our eyes. Research conducted by the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation has found that the eyes are ten times more sensitive to ultraviolet (UV) sunlight than the skin. The eye ball can not only suffer from sunburn, but prolonged exposure to bright sunlight is believed to accelerate the onset of vision-threatening conditions, including cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, both linked to aging, but excessive exposure to UV rays may increase the risk of developing these conditions.
At the same time, 10% of all skin cancers occur on the thin skin of the eyelid, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, and cancer can also occur in the eyeball itself. This is why experts now recommend focusing on wearing sunglasses as much as applying sunscreen. Samer Hamada, an eye surgery consultant at Queen Victoria Hospital, says, "It is essential to protect our eyes from the sun's rays by wearing sunglasses that block UV rays. I would say that wearing the right sunglasses to protect your eyes is just as important as applying sunscreen to protect your skin."
Dr. Hamada adds, "UV rays from the sun contain high levels of radiant energy that can pass through the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, reaching the retina at the back of the eye. Over time, this causes permanent damage, culminating in serious long-term conditions." UV rays can also damage the cornea itself, a condition known as photokeratitis, which is like sunburn to the eye itself and is also referred to as snow blindness. Sunburn to the eyeball can be very painful and cause long-term damage if it occurs repeatedly.
Patients may experience blood congestion and inflammation of the eyes, which become highly sensitive to light due to corneal damage. Some describe a feeling as if there is sand in their eyes when they blink. Typically, this damage is short-term, and discomfort can be alleviated using moisturizing eye drops. Doctors say that a simple way to avoid any harm is to always wear sunglasses from March to September, even on cloudy days, as UV rays still penetrate through cloud cover, according to the British Daily Mail.
