Excessive sun exposure can have an adverse impact on our eyes. Macular degeneration develops when the photoreceptors, which comprise the retina at the back of the eye that is responsible for seeing color and detail, die off. This can lead to blurred vision and headaches as well as an inability to see fine text. A cataract is a general term for clouding of the lens that can cause loss of vision. Pterygium is another name for keratoconjunctivitis sicca, which is an irritation or inflammation of the cornea that makes it hard for light to pass through
The effects of excessive sun exposure on the eye can be varied, but include a chance for cataracts and other health problems, damage to the retina or other parts of the eye that contorts light rays in the eyes. Possible effects include macular degeneration (degeneration) of the retina that causes blurred vision, photokeratitis (eye inflammation from sunlight) which damages skin surrounding the eyes, and pterygium (perforated membrane) either on or adjacent to the cornea (the clear front lid).
Suntanned skin is not only associated with damage to the skin (melanoma being the most noticeable), but also with problems such as vision loss, eye disorders, and others. Moderate sun exposure is beneficial for your health. It allows the body to produce vitamin D and protects against cancer, heart disease, and depression. However, excessive sun exposure can damage the body and lead to cancer, brain diseases, and other complications.
These are the potential short-term and long-term effects of sun exposure on the eyes. I will talk about them in order, from the shortest exposure to the longest
Photokeratitis:
One of the first eye conditions caused by ultraviolet exposure is photokeratitis or ultraviolet keratopathy. This causes swelling or inflammation of the cornea (the clear front covering of your eye). You can experience many symptoms such as redness, blurred vision, tears, light sensitivity, or general pain in your eyes. Photokeratitis is usually caused by not wearing protective gear from the sun when out in the sun for a long time.
Pinguecula:
The eye condition that can result from sun exposure is called pinguecula. This presents as a white or yellow bump within the firm tissue, which is named the conjunctiva and covers the white of the eye just outside of the colored part. This is common in those who live in very sunny areas or even sandy, dusty environments. It presents as a raised area within the conjunctiva, which is the gelatinous layer that covers the white of the eye. This form of pinguecula is particularly common in those who live in very sunny areas or areas with dusty environments. As the pinguecula will not go away on its own once it presents itself, it can be treated if it becomes red and swollen with various eye drops.
Macular Degeneration:
If not treated, long-term sun exposure can lead to retinal damage or macular degeneration, which is the deterioration of the retina. The retina is the lining of tissue in a person’s eye. It’s made up of multiple layers, with the centermost layer being called the macula. With macular degeneration, the composition within the macula changes and causes loss of central vision. Some people might have blurred vision or blank spaces in their sight.
Pterygium:
A pterygium is a growth of tissue that is thick and often visible as a white, wedge-shaped growth over clear tissue. If it continues to grow, then it might lead to scarring of the cornea which could lead to permanent vision loss or distortion. If the pterygium is progressing, surgery is required. Removing a pterygium to save one’s vision isn’t without controversy, however. In fact, it’s rather common for the pterygium to grow back after removal. However, there have been some recent advances in the procedure that are helping to reduce the likelihood of recurrence by using other tissues or various compounds/agents during removal.
Cataract:
The fourth eye condition from long-term exposure to the sun (we are talking years of constant sun exposure), is a cataract. It’s thought that we will all develop cataracts over time if we live long enough, but there’s some evidence that those who have constant exposure to the sun won’t develop them as quickly, such as those in tropical climates. The sun is the most common cause of blindness in the world. The ultraviolet radiation from the sun is responsible for many eye diseases like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Conclusion:
Injuries are most commonly caused by overexposure to the sun. Potential risk factors include long-term outdoor activity, repetitive stress on the eyes, nearsightedness, and some eye diseases. Injury can occur even with proper protection such as sunglasses or UV filters. Most people who have chronic exposure to sunlight do not develop any eye disease or injury but overexposure still increases your risk.