What Harm Does UV Light Actually Cause?

When you are outside on a sunny day, you may not be thinking much about how UV light can damage your eyes. However, the sun’s rays can in fact severely harm your eyes if you are not careful. Chronic exposure to UV light can lead to several issues, including to macular degeneration in Champaign, IL. Thus, while outside, keep in mind the following ways UV light can actually cause harm to your eyesight.

Two Types of UV Rays

To start with, there are two types of UV rays, these being UV-A and UV-B. UV-A can cause damage to your central vision, while UV-B rays affect the cornea and lens on the front of your eye. Should your eyes be impacted by these rays, the result could be such serious conditions as cataracts, macular degeneration, or even skin cancer around your eyelids.

Children are at Greater Risk

While adults can certainly be impacted by UV rays, children are at much greater risk. In fact, by the time the average person turns 20 years old, they have already received well over 80% of the UV exposure they will have during their lifetime. Since children have lenses that are more transparent than those of adults, UV rays can affect them much quicker and with more serious results. Also, children who spend much time outside without proper eye protection are more prone to developing cataracts or other conditions later on as adults.

Sunburned Eyes

Whether it’s looking directly at the sun or having its UV rays reflect off of sand, water, or even snow, adults and children can actually get sunburned eyes, which is referred to as corneal sunburn. If you experience this, contact your Champaign, IL eye doctor right away.

If you or your children start to experience such problems as vision loss that you suspect may be due to UV damage or the symptoms of macular degeneration in Champaign, IL, contact your eye doctor immediately to set up an appointment for a comprehensive exam that will determine what is wrong.