Yes, Your Eyes Can Get SunBurnt – Here's How You Can Protect Them
It’s not just your skin that can get damaged by UV rays, your Asian eyes are equally vulnerable
If you believe it’s just your skin that can get damaged by the sun, think again. You probably know that it is important to wear sunblock to protect your skin - but how often do you forget to wear sunglasses? Your sight is just as precious. Children’s eyes are also vulnerable to sun damage - partly because they spend more time in the sun than adults. Sun damage is why adult eyeballs are less sparkly white than children’s eyeballs. Over time the white of the eye becomes sun-damaged and more yellow.
It's vital to wear UV protective sunglasses when you are outside, even on cool, overcast days. This is because UV radiation can reflect up from the ground, water, glass windows, concrete and other hard or shiny surfaces.
Some of the eye conditions caused or worsened by UV damage include;
Sun damage can contribute to cataracts. This is when the naturally clear lens in your eye becomes clouded. Gradually you notice blurred vision or cloudiness, making everything look slightly hazy. Cataracts are common in Singapore, affecting around 80% of people over the age of 60 years and 95% of people over the age of 70 years. As well as sun damage, other risk factors for cataracts include high myopia, history of eye trauma, diabetes, long-term use of steroid medications, smoking, obesity, alcohol abuse and high blood pressure.
Although the cornea and the natural lens block a major portion of UV from reaching the retina, UV can also cause damage to the back parts of the eye - the retina and macular. The macular is like a cinema screen at the back of the eye, showing you what you are looking at. If the macula screen gets damaged, the picture gets “holes’ in it, and you can’t see colours well. Macular degeneration is common among people aged over 50 - and it affects all races. It used to be thought macular degeneration mainly affected light blue, grey or green eyes - but recent studies show it also damages brown and black Asian eyes. Around 27 percent of elderly people in Singapore have macular degeneration. It affects all races here, and men and women equally.
The skin around your eyes is especially thin, so it’s vulnerable to sun damage. Melanoma of skin cancers can be found anywhere around the eye but are most commonly found on the eyelid.
This is when the cornea of the eye gets sunburnt by bright lights. The cornea is the clear outer layer at the front of the eye - it helps you focus. Photokeratitis is more common in people who are regularly exposed to very bright lights - like sailors, welders and snow skiers who do not use proper eye protection. Photokeratitis is painful and can cause temporary loss of vision. Luckily, the eye usually heals itself after a while.
Get regular check ups of your eyes. Look for spectacle shops that have optometrists on staff, not just opticians There’s nothing wrong with opticians - they are skilled technicians trained to design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames and contact lenses. But opticians do not test vision or write prescriptions. They are not permitted to diagnose or treat eye diseases.
An optometrist is a healthcare professional who can provide primary vision care ranging from sight testing and correction to the diagnosis, treatment, and management of vision changes. They can spot eye problems early and refer you to an ophthalmologist, if necessary. An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specialises in eyes and vision care. They’ve done at least eight years of additional medical training, and can diagnose and treat all eye diseases and perform eye surgery.
According to specialists at Singapore National Eye Centre you need to look at the darkness and colour of the tint, the shape of the frame and the type of lens
Darker tints offer more effective eye care. But whatever colour the shades are, the label should clearly state the sunglasses block 99 per cent to 100 per cent of UV rays. To check the quality of the lens, the American Food and Drug Administration suggests you look at a vertical edge (like a door frame) and move your head back and forth. If the line wiggles the line, the lens may have a defect. Choose another pair.
It’s partly because they spend more time in the sun than adults. For best UV coverage, kids should wear well-fitting sunglasses made from impact-resistant polycarbonate. You can now find frames shaped for Asian faces, including Oakley wrap-around sunglasses, Singapore brand Rocket, Korean brand Gentle Monster.. The Ray-Ban online portal also lets you order Asian fit options for kids and adults.
Wraparound sunglasses protect your eyes best. If you're active, go for polycarbonate sunglasses - this material is impact-resistant and a natural UV blocker. Polarised and mirror-coating sunglasses do reduce light transmission but may not necessarily block UV. If you wear spectacles, the newer photochromic lenses can be useful because they turn dark outdoors when they absorb UV rays.
But you may still need an extra pair of powered sunglasses in the car - glass windows block some of the signals the lenses need to turn dark. This means your photochromic lenses may not become dark enough in the car to shield your eyes.
Text by: Bauer syndication. Additional reporting by Tara Barker