The Sun is an important support of our life but in some ways, its rays pose many dangers to our health. In the form of ultraviolet radiation, it not only hampers our skin but it harms our eyes and other components of solar radiation can also affect vision.
There are three types of UV radiation:
- UV-A
UV – A can hurt the central vision and can damage the macula, a part of the retina at the back of your eye.
- UV-B
In UV – B the front part of the eye that has the cornea and the lens absorbs these rays and damages your eyes.
- UV-C
UV- C are good rays which are absorbed by the ozone layer and does not present any threat.
Types of Eye Problems caused by UV Rays
- Macular Degeneration – Macular degeneration, is a leading eye disease that causes vision loss in most cases of old age people.
- Cataract – UV-B rays are prominent to cause several kinds of cataracts which creates a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, that focuses the light we see.
- Pterygium- Pterygium is an eye disorder in which a small growth begins to dwell on the white of the eye and may involve the cornea and then slowly blocks the vision after a certain period of time
- Skin Cancer – Skin cancer enveloping around the eyelids of an eye is also generated due to prolonged UV exposure.
- Corneal Sunburn – Result of high short-term exposure to UV-B rays can cause corneal sunburn. It generally happens due to no proper eye protection in areas such as beach or skiing. Negligence, in this case, may even cause temporary vision loss.
The harmful effects of technology rays
Today’s generation is more exposed to shorter-wavelength visible light which consists of blue and violet light which are very harmful to the retina. The digital devices like laptops, mobiles and iPad emit this shorter-wavelength visible light. Some times and some types of blue light can be beneficial, in regulating our bodies’ internal biological clocks.
But nevertheless, these blue lights can be harmful to the eyes, specifically the retina. And can give rise to age-related macular degeneration, that de-thoriates the capacity of retina thus damaging the vision. Therefore, many offices are implementing lenses to enhance the ability to block these harmful rays while you use computers and smartphones. To know more about these products and devices, visit website and get the required information from reputed ophthalmologists.
Negative effects of UV rays on the eyes and vision
Exposing to excessive amounts of UV radiation will likely experience photokeratitis. It can be very painful and some symptoms include:
- red swollen eyes
- a foreign body sensation feeling and irritation in the eyes
- extreme sensitivity to light
- excessive tearing
With solar radiation, there is a greater chance of developing cataracts in life. Even people in old age are prone to macular degeneration because of UV rays’ effects.
Protection against UV rays
- Whenever you spend time outdoors, wear quality sunglasses that offer UV protection
- Wear a hat or cap with a wide brim
- Contact lenses can also be used as an additional gear for UV protection
How to choose perfect sunglasses for UV protection?
- Make sure to check that your sunglasses block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation.
- Can the sunglasses screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light?
- Check is the lenses perfectly matched in colour and free of any damages, distortion and imperfection?
- Are the lenses grey for proper colour recognition?
All these parameters will guide you to buy a perfect UV protected sunglass and help you to protect your eye from several eye problems.
