May 2, 2002

Soaking up the sun? Look out for your eyes as well as your skin

Ann Arbor—While most of us know that it’s important to protect our skin from the sun, we might not as readily think about our eyes. Yet the same ultraviolet rays that damage the skin can harm your eyes as well, says Michael Smith-Wheelock, M.D., ophthalmologist at the University of Michigan Kellogg Eye Center. He advises adults and children to wear sunglasses with UV protection to block harmful rays.

Prolonged exposure to the sun has a direct link to some eye conditions, including the formation of cataracts, and is suspected of contributing to others, says Dr. Smith-Wheelock. "We have good evidence that the incidence of cataracts relates to the ‘dosage’ or exposure to ultraviolet rays," he says. "The more exposure to sun you have, the more likely you are to have cataracts. And the effect intensifies the closer you move to the equator."

Dr. Smith-Wheelock notes that intense UV rays can actually burn the surface of the cornea. The condition, called photokeratitis, is similar to sunburn and is more likely to occur in areas where the sun is highly reflected, for example, off of water, snow, the desert, and in tanning booths.

Most eye disorders from the sun tend to affect the front—the cornea and lens-— rather than the back of the eye, says Dr. Smith-Wheelock. Nonetheless you can do severe damage to the retina, which lines the back of the eye, by staring directly at the sun. The resulting condition is called solar retinopathy, and welders wear goggles to protect their eyes from such an effect.

Kellogg optician, David Karl, explains what you should look for in a pair of sunglasses. First check for a rating that promises to block 99-100% of the UV-A and
UV-B rays. "More expensive sunglasses do not necessarily offer more protection—it’s the UV rating that counts," says Mr. Karl. "When you spend more money for glasses, you are paying for fashion and, perhaps, some improvement in the optical quality." Another popular feature, he says, is polarization, which increases comfort by cutting the glare from horizontal surfaces, like water.
"Don’t forget to ask about UV protection when you buy prescription glasses," says Mr. Karl. Kellogg’s Optical Shop automatically includes UV protection in all children’s glasses and in most adult lenses, but not all shops offer the same coverage.

Because UV rays can penetrate the clouds, Mr. Karl says it’s a good idea to wear sunglasses on overcast days. You also need protection when you’re in a tanning booth, and when you’re near water or snow, because reflected sun means intensified UV rays.

For more information, contact the U-M Kellogg Eye Center at 734-763-1415. To contact the Kellogg Optical Shop, call (734) 764-5144.

Contact: Betsy Nisbet, 734.647.5586, bsnisbet@umich.edu.