Your EYEBALLS can get sunburnt, experts warn – 5 ways to prevent it

YOUR eyes can get sunburnt which over time could lead to conditions that impair vision, experts have warned.

The eyeballs themselves can get burned in one tanning session, but repeated exposure can lead to conditions usually seen in the elderly.

Sunlight is made from three types of UV rays (UVA, UVB and UVC). The former two are most risk to health.

UV radiation is present all the time, even on days where it is cloudy and in colder places.

And it could lead to photokeratitis - a temporary eye problem caused by overexposure to UV rays.

Samer Hamada, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the Queen Victoria Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in East Grinstead, and Eye Clinic London, told MailOnline: “UVB rays can damage the cornea itself — this is known as photokeratitis — and is like sunburn of the eye itself.”

The condition sometimes goes by “snow blindness” as it is common among skiers and snowboarders, as well as those who go hiking, swimming, or use a tanning bed.

Photokeratitis causes inflammation of the cornea, which can lead to blurry vision, colour changes in your vision, headaches and a gritty feeling in the eyes.

The longer you’ve been exposed, the more severe the symptoms - although they should’t last too long.

Sunburn of the eyeball can be very painful.

Roshni Kanabar, an optician in St Albans, Herts, and clinical adviser at the Association of Optometrists, said: “Patients may experience bloodshot, sore eyes which are hyper-sensitive to light because the cornea has been damaged, and some describe a feeling as if sand is in their eye when they blink.

“This damage is usually short-lived, and discomfort can be eased with lubricating eye drops.”

However, the long-term effects of too much UV rays are real and could be life-changing. 

Ms Hamada said: “UVA rays contain high levels of radiation energy which can go through the cornea, the clear front window of the eye, to reach the retina at the back of the eye.

“Over time this causes lasting damage, culminating in serious long-term conditions.”

While most of us associate sun damage with skin, it’s been found to be even more serious in the eyes.

Research by the Australian Skin Cancer Foundation found that eyes are ten times more sensitive to the sun's invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays than the skin.

Despite this, surveys have revealed millions of British adults have "no idea" UV rays can damage their eyes.

A poll of 2,000 people in 2019 showed that nearly a quarter would only associate UV damage with sunburn of the skin.

Some 28 per cent were unaware they can be affected by UV rays in the winter sun, and three in 10 didn’t know that UV rays can still be damaging on a cloudy day.

The study, commissioned by ZEISS, said despite a high percentage agreeing it’s important to protect their eyes from UV rays, a fifth have no idea how to.

Thirteen per cent don’t see protecting their eyes as a priority, and a shocking one in 20 simply “don’t care”.

The dangers

If you spend a lot of time outdoors or sunbathing, you might want to be wary of long-term eye conditions.

Long-term UV damage is the main cause of pinguecula - when lesions appear the white of the eye, called the conjunctiva.

It is also a contributor to pterygium, a fleshy overgrowth of the conjunctiva which normally starts in the inner corner.

While pinguecula is typically harmless and doesn’t need major treatment, pterygium may grow across the cornea affecting vision.

UV damage is also thought to speed up the process of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Cataracts are when the lens of the eye develops cloudy patches, causing misty vision and sometimes complete vision loss.

The problem, which often needs surgery, is most commonly associated with aging and there are many risk factors, such as diabetes.

So it’s difficult to pinpoint it to being the cause of sun damage. However, experts nonetheless say you can help prevent the condition by protecting your eyes. 

Meanwhile, age-related macular degeneration causes vision to become distorted, making objects seem smaller for example of even causing hallucinations.

It has also been linked to prolonged sun exposure, but the evidence is weak.

There is also the problem of burning the delicate skin of the eyelids.

Around one in ten skin cancers occur on the thin skin of the eyelid, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

5 ways to prevent sunburnt eyes 

Experts in eyecare say the eyes should be protected from the sun with just as much effort as the skin.

1. Wear proper sunglasses

The easiest thing you can do is wear sunglasses to protect the eyes in the summer months.

But don’t just pick up any old pair - the larger the better, and a wrap-around style will avoid the sun seeping through the side.

Ms Roshni said: “To protect our skin we are often advised to avoid overexposure to the sun between 11am and 3pm when it is at its most intense.

“But for eyes, the damage can be worse at other times of the day; that's because when the sun is overhead, your brow helps shield them from direct sunlight — but when the sun is lower, it can get into the back of the eye more easily.

“So I advise people to wear sunglasses until it gets dark — and especially in the early evening when the sun is low in the summer sky.”

She said the UV protection of the sunglasses is most important, and not how dark the shades are.

The industry standard is to provide protection against UV rays up to 380nm yet leading health organisations define UV radiation as up to 400nm.

Although this may sound like a small difference, this actually represents 40 per cent of the radiation that reaches the earth, so can have a major impact on protecting your eyes.

2. Wear shades from a young age

To limit the damage caused by the sun, get your kids wearing sunglasses from a very young age.

According to the World Health Organisation, children are more exposed to the sun than adults.

Estimates suggest that up to 80 per cent of a person’s lifetime exposure to UV is received before the age of 18.

Ms Kanabar said: “Children have larger pupils than adults, and as the lenses of people's eyes are often clearer when they are younger, more light is let into them than those of adults.”

The WHO says to keep kids under one years old out of the sun anyway, but also to cover them in protective clothing, a hat and sunglasses, and use a SPF 15+ suncream.

3. Get your eyes checked regularly

With many conditions, eye problems can worsen if they are not spotted and treated early.

Having regular tests with an optician can not only spot any potential problems in the eye, but conditions such as diabetes or high cholesterol.

Both can cause symptoms in the eyes but may be undiagnosed.

4. Wear a hat

For another layer of protection, a hat will keep the eyes and surrounding skin shaded.

Wide-brimmed hats prevent about half the sunlight from getting into your eyes, according to the Speciality Eye Institute. 

This protection also gives you a better defense against rays that may penetrate above or around your sunglasses.

5. Avoid sunbeds

You can get further protection from sun damage in the eyes by avoiding sunbeds, which also radiate UV rays. 

The World Health Organisation says: “Avoid sunlamps and tanning parlours. Sunbeds damage the skin and unprotected eyes and are best avoided entirely.”