Treating sunburned eyes mainly involves managing the discomfort and waiting for the symptoms to pass. In rare cases, there might be some lasting damage from eye sunburn. You should consider visiting your optician if you experience any of the following symptoms, as these could be an indication of more serious damage:. Although sunburned eyes are usually harmless, there can sometimes be long-term effects which come with repeated photokeratitis over a number of years.
Recurring corneal damage from UV rays might lead to cancer, macular degeneration or severely dry eyes , all of which pose a risk to your overall vision and eye health. Over-exposure to the sun can also bring on the development of cataracts earlier than they might have otherwise occurred, impairing your vision further. Cataracts require surgical removal and, without treatment, can progress to a level which renders you legally blind.
The best thing to do is invest in proper sunglasses as prevention is much better than treatment in these cases. X Covid update: Most of our clinics are open - Click for further info. The same goes for water play: The risk of sunburn for kids and adults increases in the pool or lake which reflects UV light back into the eyes.
Snow days: A day skiing, sledding, snowshoeing, or participating in another winter sport can put your eyes at risk. Snow blindness, a rare form of photokeratitis, can occur when UV radiation is reflected by snow and ice.
Visiting a tanning salon: Tanning beds are popular throughout the year, but especially in the colder months for those living at higher latitudes. The ultraviolet light emitted by tanning beds can be extremely hurtful to your eyes. This also goes for other non-sun sources of UV rays, including mercury vapor lamps, halogen desk lamps, and photographic flood lamps. At altitude or in a sunny place: If you live or spend time at high altitude doing activities such as hiking or climbing, you are at risk due to the greater exposure to UV rays.
This is also the case if you live in a sun-soaked part of the country. Depending on the severity of your UV exposure, symptoms can last for several hours or up to 48 hours. If your symptoms are extremely painful or you experience vision loss, contact your eye doctor. However, not all sunglasses are created equal. If you're shopping at a specialty sunglasses or glasses store, ask the sales associate for help with finding these features. Smaller frames provide less protection, not just from the front, but also from the top, bottom, and sides.
Bigger frames offer more surface area protection head-on, but still, you are dealing with UV rays coming in from the side, which can still cause damage. Bert recognizes that while they may not be the most fashion-forward, wrap-around style full-coverage sunglasses provide the most coverage because they don't allow UV rays to get in through the sides. To be extra safe, especially if you're wearing smaller frames, wear a hat to create some additional shade for your eyes, or sit under an umbrella.
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Women's Health. Primary Care. Even though sunburns on your skin and eyes tend to fade on their own, lasting damage could appear as a result of repeat or excessive exposure. UV-blocking sunglasses are your best bet to avoid photokeratitis while you enjoy the outdoors. By Bobby Boland , Contributing Writer. May 24, Better Me. Surface reflection Water, sand, snow and ice can reflect powerful UV rays back up into your eyes.
Solar eclipse You know not to stare directly at the sun. Arc welders The bright light from an arc welder is so powerful it can result in photokeratitis. Tanning beds There are a lot of good reasons to avoid tanning beds in general. How to know if you have photokeratitis The American Academy of Ophthalmology AAO lists the following symptoms as signs that you may have a sunburn on your eyes.
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