Do UV Rays Cause Eye Disease?

Summer brings a lot of attention and warnings about UV protection and skin cancers with one in five diagnosed, according to Arizona Cancer Center Skin Cancer Institute. However, protecting eyes from UV a variety of damage, including cancerous eye growth, is often overlooked.

July is annual UV Safety Awareness Month, promoted by the American Academy of Ophthalmology and other organizations. Should Americans avoid tanning facilities and outdoor activities to lower cancer and blindness risks?

What is UV and Why Should I Care?

UV is a common abbreviation, but what does it really mean for skin and eye health? Ultra-violet (UV) is the term for harmful radiation released by the sun every day. The earth's ozone layer in the atmosphere helps protect us from some of it, but UV exposure varies by season and the ozone thickness.

Skin begins to turn more pink, red, tan or brown in just 15 minutes of exposure to UV, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC). Eye diseases, including cancer growths, cataracts and macular degeneration are caused by this same UV exposure all year long, not just in summer.

Before age 18, each person already has been exposed to at least 25% of the UV exposure for his whole lifetime, according to EarthGauge Environmental Report. People who enjoy outdoor hobbies, like gardeners, get about 3 hours per week of sun exposure, and older people lose defense against UV-B, causing greater likelihood for cataracts in the eyes.

Who is at Highest Risk?

Five general groups of people are at highest risk for overexposure to UV rays, according to the National Cancer Institute 2009-10 Cancer Trends Progress Report. Children and babies are at particular risk because they do not know to protect themselves. It is up to the adults in their lives to keep their UV exposure to a minimum. No matter what age, men are least likely to wear sun protection. Younger adults are also less likely to protect themselves. Young women look for shady places far less than young men and young women choose overexposure in indoor tanning beds and sun lamps most often. People living below the U.S. poverty level are also among the least likely to use sun protection, whether sunglasses or sunscreen.

Bottom Line

UV protection should be part of daily routine for everyone's skin and eyes. Prevention is easier, less costly, and far less painful or life threatening than risking overexposure to UV radiation.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not replace consultation with a licensed medical professional.

Sources

http://www.emaxhealth.com
http://eyedocnews.com
http://ahsc.arizona.edu