Although the eye has different protective mechanisms, ultraviolet radiation in particular – that is, those that contain more energy than visible light – can cause direct cell damage. Due to its function and structure, the eye, compared to the skin, is more susceptible to damage from sunlight: insufficient sun exposure to produce damage to the skin, in fact, can on the contrary cause damage to the retina of our eyes.
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The factors that determine whether solar radiation will damage the human eye are: the intensity of the light, the wavelength received by the eye tissues and even age. In fact, children are particularly vulnerable to ultraviolet rays due to their larger pupils and more transparent cornea and lens. In reality, there are systems of protection against direct exposure to harmful ultraviolet rays: for example, ozone which is a gas present in the upper layers of the atmosphere.
In fact, the ozone layers prevent almost all harmful rays from reaching the eye. Unfortunately, however, the thinning of the protective layers of ozone present in the atmosphere, caused by pollution and the release of harmful gases into the atmosphere, has led to an increase in ultraviolet solar radiation reaching the earth’s surface, with consequences for the our health. The eyes are also equipped with protective systems against solar radiation: the upper eyelids and the tear film, a liquid film that covers the conjunctiva and the cornea, are, in fact, able to mitigate the harmful effects.
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curated by Irma D’Aria
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The damage to our visual apparatus caused by excessive exposure to sunlight can be modest and transient, or serious and irreversible: acute exposure to high doses to ultraviolet rays can cause conjunctivitis and even keratitis, inflammation of the anterior surface of the eye. These are conditions that usually regress easily with appropriate eye drops treatment, while chronic exposure, even at low doses to ultraviolet rays, represents a risk factor for cataracts, pterygium and macular degeneration. Conditions that are more complex and that require appropriate therapies.
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Even the so-called dry eye or keratoconjunctivitis sicca, can be caused by oxidative stress: in this case the solar radiation causes a quantitative and qualitative alteration of the tear film, the liquid protective film present on the ocular surface, causing symptoms that can be very annoying, such as burning and sensation of having a foreign body in the eye.
Precisely to avoid the onset of these pathologies, all the aids for the protection of our eyes from sunlight should be taken into serious consideration, starting with sunglasses with EU certification and with more or less darkening protection filter according to need. . The color of the lenses does not indicate their filtration capacity and therefore very dark lenses, but without EU marking, may not have any protective capacity. In addition to glasses, wide-brimmed hats are useful, especially in children, which protect and at the same time allow the child to play safely without the encumbrance of a pair of glasses.
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Another help comes from absorbent films for the side windows of cars that block ultraviolet rays, especially, again, to protect children who are more vulnerable to damage from excessive exposure to solar radiation.
*Head of the Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Maculopathies at the Umberto I Hospital in Rome