You can’t see UV but its damaging effects can stay with you for life. In fact, eyes are 10 times more sensitive to UV than skin.
Most of us are aware that we should protect our skin against UV (ultraviolet) rays by using sun cream and covering up. But do you ever consider what UV can do to our eyes?
Many of us wear sunglasses as a practicality to reduce the glare of the sun, or even to look cool, but there is a more serious reason for wearing shades.
UV radiation from the sun can have both short- and long-term effects on the condition of our eyes. It can burn the surface, cornea and lens of the eye, much like sun can burn skin. Long-term exposure to UV radiation can be serious. For instance, exposure to UV significantly increases the risk of developing cataracts, a clouding of the eyes lens and the leading cause of blindness in the world.
UK unaware of health risks
According to the Eyecare Trust our eyes are 10 times more sensitive to UV light than our skin but children’s eyes face an even greater risk of UV damage. Big pupils and clearer lenses means that 70 per cent more UV light can reach the retina of a child.
The World Health Organization estimates that this lack of natural eye protection, combined with the amount of time children spend playing outdoors, could mean that as much as 80 per cent of a lifetime’s UV is absorbed into the eye by the time a child reaches the age of 18.
In the UK, cumulative exposure to UV is one of the main causes of age-related macular degeneration and cataracts – the leading cause of sight loss that affects one in three people aged over 65 years. Parents need to ensure they protect their children’s eyes from the sun, or they are putting them at risk of permanent damage to their sight in the future.
Looking after your eyes
To protect your eyes from UV exposure it is important to wear good quality UV protective sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation and that screens 75 to 90 percent of visible light. Wraparound sunglasses offer the best protection while grey lenses give proper colour recognition. To protect your eyes further, you should also seek shade during the middle of the day between 11am and 3pm when UV penetration is at its strongest.
The UV index (the strength of the sun) can be high at many times of the year. It is worth remembering that it doesn't have to be hot and the sky doesn’t have to be cloudless for UV levels to be high. We grade the UV level from low to very high, and it is important to take action when UV levels are moderate or above.
To get UV forecasts for UK, all you have to do is simply go to the Met Office website or download the free Met Office app. The UV forecast shows the UV index for the next seven days and an hour-by-hour forecast for the next two days.
Latest research
We undertook some research to find out what people know about UV and its effects and the actions they take when UV levels are high.
A huge surprise was that almost one third of people don’t know that the sun is our main source of UV and yet half of people know UV comes from sunbeds!
While 41% of adults worry about UV being a cause of skin cancer, only 22% worry about the effects of UV on their eyes, despite UV being much more damaging to eyes than to skin.
Many people underestimate the effects of UV. For instance, one quarter of people thinking UV is only harmful when the sky is clear. One in three people do not realise that eyes can get burnt by UV, a quarter of UK adults believe that UV light is not harmful after 3pm and 27% believing that if its cold outside then there is no need to worry about UV.
UV awareness
One thing that most people did get right is that UV is more damaging to children than adults, with six out of 10 people answering this correctly. However, almost half of people thought that UV damage was reversible – which it isn’t – and almost half felt that the darker the lens the more protection sunglasses offered, which is also not true.
In terms of protecting against UV, just under half of people didn’t know whether their sunglasses offered UV protection. Three quarters of parents weren’t aware that there is any such thing as a UV forecast. Meanwhile, only a quarter of parents would take protective action when the UV level is moderate, even though this is the level at which the NHS suggest people should take action.
UV awareness is generally growing but this has largely been limited to the effects of UV on skin and how this can lead to skin cancer. Now, we hope to shine the spotlight on the effect of UV on eyes and especially children, thereby helping to protect the eyesight of a generation.
FAQs
Corneal damage, cataracts and macular degeneration are all possible chronic effects from UV exposure and can ultimately lead to decreased vision. 3. The eyelid skin is the thinnest of the whole body. UV damage induces dryness, wrinkles, accentuated skin furrows, sagging, loss of elasticity and mottled pigmentation.
How does UV affect the eyes? ›
Corneal damage, cataracts and macular degeneration are all possible chronic effects from UV exposure and can ultimately lead to decreased vision. 3. The eyelid skin is the thinnest of the whole body. UV damage induces dryness, wrinkles, accentuated skin furrows, sagging, loss of elasticity and mottled pigmentation.
What are the symptoms of UV damage to the eyes? ›
It is caused when the eyes are exposed to too much ultraviolet (UV) light. After a delay of 6 to 12 hours following exposure to arc welding, sun lamps or other sources of UV light, the eyes become red, painful, watery and unduly sensitive to light. The vision may become blurred and the eyelids may be red and swollen.
How long does it take for UV light to damage eyes? ›
Long-term consequences can result in serious vision threatening eye conditions like cataracts or macular degeneration. After exposure, symptoms appear within eight to 24 hours. Similar to burning your skin, you can experience a wide range of symptoms with an eye sunburn.
What are the 5 effects of UV rays? ›
Too much exposure leads to skin cancer. UVB can damage the outermost layers of your skin. It can cause sun spots, tanning, sunburns and blistering, which can lead to skin cancer. UVC is absorbed by the Earth's atmosphere and the UV light you experience on Earth is either UVA or UVB, not UVC.
Can you fix UV damage to eyes? ›
The eyes can heal after sun damage, but they may experience some vision changes. Many eye problems caused by sun damage are cumulative, meaning they result from repeated and consistent sun damage over many years. Cataracts, pterygium, and macular degeneration are treatable, but will not resolve on their own.
Why are my eyes so sensitive to UV? ›
Light sensitivity (photophobia) is an intolerance to light that causes discomfort or pain. Any bright light source, such as sunlight or artificial light, may cause discomfort. Light sensitivity may be a symptom of certain eye conditions or due to a migraine or a bacterial infection such as meningitis.
How can I protect my eyes from UV? ›
Q: How do I protect my eyes from UV light? Wearing sunglasses and a hat is the simplest and safest way to protect your eyes from UV rays. Choose sunglasses that that fit well and that block light from coming in around the lenses. Choose a hat with a broad, dark brim that shades your eyes and reduces glare.
What are the symptoms of UV rays in the eyes? ›
Symptoms and Causes
- Eye pain or redness.
- Tearing/watery eyes.
- Blurry vision.
- Swelling.
- Light sensitivity.
- Gritty sensation in your eyes.
If the damage is near the macula, one could notice various visual effects such as general poor vision, distortion of images such as straight lines appearing wavy, blurry spots in one's central vision, and/or vision with images appearing and disappearing. Typical symptoms of a damaged retina include: Dim central vision.
Most sunglasses today have UV protection embedded in the lens rather than coated over it, and most reputable brands list UV protection on their label. Look for a label that says either of these two things: 100% protection against both UVA and UVB.
What diseases are caused by UV rays? ›
Health Effects of UV Radiation
- Skin cancer.
- Premature aging and other skin damage.
- Cataracts and other eye damage.
- Immune system suppression.
The skin of people who are sensitive to light can't protect itself from UV radiation for long. In very fair-skinned people, UV radiation starts becoming harmful after about 5 to 10 minutes.
How does UV affect your eyes? ›
Over time. The longer the eyes are exposed to solar radiation, the greater the risk of developing cataracts, eye cancer, pterygium (surfer's eye) or macular degeneration later in life. It is not clear how much exposure to solar radiation will cause damage.
How to protect yourself from UV light? ›
Wear protective clothing and a broad-brimmed sunhat. Sunglasses with 100% UV protection are also important. Use a sunscreen and apply it liberally, at least 15 minutes before you go out in the sun. Make sure your sunscreen has a sun-protection factor (SPF) of 30 or higher, and screens out both UVA and UVB rays.
How much sun is bad for you? ›
Your Skin. Researchers think the three primary types of skin cancer -- melanoma, basal cell carcinoma, and squamous cell carcinoma -- are mostly caused by too much time in the sun. So it's very important to use sunscreen or cover up if you're going to be outside longer than 15 minutes or so.
Are human eyes sensitive to UV light? ›
Sensitivity to ultraviolet light (UV) is achieved by photoreceptors in the eye that contain a class of visual pigments maximally sensitive to light at wavelengths <400 nm.
Are UV glasses bad for your eyes? ›
Are sunglasses good for your eyes? Sunglasses are good for your health if the lenses block UV and the sunglasses are worn correctly (with the frame's nose bridge touching your face). Eyes filter out most, but not all, UV rays. Anything that limits UV exposure to the eye alleviates risk.
Does UV light damage the retina? ›
Conclusions: Although the anterior portion of the eye is the most susceptible to UV damage, the retina is at risk to the longer UV wavelengths that propagate through the ocular media.
