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Sun’s ultraviolet radiation a threat to young eyes

A latest study by the Vision Council in the US found UV radiation was often recognised as the culprit for sunburns and skin cancer but most people did not realise its damaging impact on the eye. It said this left many vulnerable to short-term and long-term health problems such as photokeratitis, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and cancer of the eye and surrounding skin.

The Council’s newly released 2013 study found that 40 per cent of US adults still did not wear sunglasses while outside. The study found 28.5 per cent did not wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun, a figure that rose to 32.9 per cent for men but was lower among women.

It said: ‘Sadly, these unsafe habits are being passed on to younger generations. Over half of parents do not utilise sunglasses to protect their children’s eyes from UV exposure, opening the door for life-long damage.’

The Council advised that individuals could decrease their exposure by taking extra precautions between 10am and 4pm, when the sun is closest to the Earth and UV radiation is most intense. Researchers also warned recent studies showed the eyes receive double the amount of UV in the early morning and late afternoon.

It added that most contact lenses blocked UV rays, but since contact lenses did not cover the entire eye, protective sunwear was still necessary.

A case study was documented of CNN news anchor Anderson Cooper, who was left temporarily blinded with photokeratitis for nearly two days, as a result of UV reflected from open water. Ski slopes also presented this reflection risk, the Council added.

Further research on UV will be shared at a conference hosted by the European Sunglass Association (ESA) and the Vision Council following their merger deal last year. Coverage from the event, taking place on May 23 and 24 at the Marriott Praia D’el Rey in Portugal, will appear in Optician later this month.

May 18, 2013 - Posted by Christina Macpherson | 2 WORLD, health, radiation