Eye damage
Solar radiation can damage the eyes directly and can therefore have different short-term and long-term consequences. The main ones are explained in the following article.
Cataract
Cataracts are clouding of the lens of the eye, which can have various causes, but is usually promoted by UV radiation. It is characterized by a slow and painless loss of visual acuity. Affected people see everything more and more blurred and are increasingly sensitive to bright light. As a treatment, the eye lens can be surgically replaced with an artificial lens.
Snow blindness
Snow blindness (also called photokeratitis) is a short-term and painful consequence of overexposure to UV rays. The cornea of the eye can normally absorb some of the UV radiation. But if the exposure is too high, the cornea and conjunctiva will burn. This then leads to extreme pain, tearing, red eyes and a foreign body sensation in the eyes. Symptoms usually go away after 34-48 hours. However, medical treatment is essential.
Degenerations
Degeneration of the eye may be less of a problem or cause visual impairment or blindness. If the conjunctiva (pinguecula) is concerned, this is usually a harmless yellowish growth in the eye. Macular degeneration, on the other hand, which affects the retina, leads in many cases to visual impairment and blindness.
Protection of the eyes
- Wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.
- Never look directly at the sun.
- Wear a hat that shields your eyes if you are out in direct sun for long periods of time.
- Do not underestimate the radiation on snow-covered ground or near water.
- Welding machines emit a large amount of UVC radiation, which is very harmful. So never weld without a welding mask.
Further reading:
- Cataract Wikipedia: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Katarakt_(Medizin)
- Wikipedia on photokeratitis: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photokeratitis
- The sun, UV light and your eyes: https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/sun
Sources:
- Top 5 eye problems resulting from UV exposure: https://www.caringvillage.com/2017/07/19/top-5-eye-problems-resulting-from-uv-exposure/
