In This Issue
Overview 1
Complications 2
UV Rays 3
References 4
Pharm Facts: Eye
Sunlight Safety
June 3, 2016
Overview
While there may be an increasing prevalence of skin cancer awareness,
the public seems to be less knowledgeable about the damage that the
sun can do to one’s eyes. People may avoid looking at the sun when it
is at its brightest but may not know of the many other precautions they
should take to ensure maximum eye protection against the sun.
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun plays the most damaging
role of all. It is important to protect oneself by taking several protective
measures, to be detailed further in this edition, as well as having a
general understanding of some of the problematic eye conditions that
can be caused by sun exposure.
PHARM FACTS: EYE SUNLIGHT SAFETY
Complications
Sunlight can be damaging to
your eye in a number of
ways. The following are
several different eye
conditions to which it can
lead:
 Eyelid cancers
o Account for 5-10%
of all skin cancers
o Can potentially
spread to the eye
itself along with
surrounding areas
 Intraocular melanoma
o Although still rare,
it is the most
common eye
cancer in adults
o Symptoms include
change in shape of
pupil and blurred
vision
 Conjunctival cancer
o Cancer of the
protective
membrane on the
outside of the eye
o More common in
patients with a
high number of
moles
 Cataracts
o Yellowing and
clouding of eye
lens
o 10% of cases due
to UV exposure
 Macular degeneration
o One of the most
common causes of
vision loss for
people over the
age of 60
o Worsened by
cumulative UV
damage
 Keratitis
o Also known as
corneal sunburn
o Caused by
excessive UV
exposure to the
sun or tanning
machines
STEVEN HOLLOWAY, PHARM.D CANDIDATE 2017
2
PHARM FACTS: EYE SUNLIGHT SAFETY
Ultraviolet (UV) Rays
 There are three different types of UV rays: UVA, UVB, and UVC.
However, UVC rays do not significantly penetrate Earth’s
atmosphere, leaving UVA and UVB as the two types affecting us.
 UVA Rays
o Less intense than UVB rays but account for up to 95% of all
UV rays entering Earth’s atmosphere
o Present in the same intensity at all times during the day
throughout the year
o Associated with cataracts and macular degeneration
 UVB Rays
o Penetrates less deeply but with more intensity than UVA
o Although UVB rays can cause damage year round, they are
most prevalent from April to October from 10am-4pm
o Associated with keratitis, unsightly eye growths, and
distorted vision
 UV rays are also reflective and can cause even more damage if
you are near any of these surfaces, for example:
o Snow
o Sand
o Water
 What can I do to protect myself from harmful UV rays?
o Seek shade and limit time in the sun during the most
harmful hours, which are from 10am until 4pm
o Wear sunglasses that block 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB
light as well as wide-brimmed hats
o Polarized sunglasses can help to block glare from UV rays
that are reflected off surfaces
o Keep track of the UV index in your area in order to check
the strength of the sun’s rays at that time
STEVEN HOLLOWAY, PHARM.D CANDIDATE 2017
3
PHARM FACTS: EYE SUNLIGHT SAFETY
References
 Epstein JH and Wang SQ. UVA and UVB [Internet]. The Skin
Cancer Foundation. New York, NY. [2013 May 24, cited 2016 June
3]. Available from http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/uvaand-uvb
 Heiting Gary. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation and your eyes [Internet].
All About Vision: San Diego, CA. [2016 May, cited 2016 June 3].
Available from
http://www.allaboutvision.com/sunglasses/spf.htm
 New York Glass [Internet]. [2015 Feb 3, cited 2016 June 3].
Available from https://www.nyglass.com/blogs/blog/16994984snow-blindness-3-reasons-to-avoid-this-painful-winter-condition
 Rodriguez-Sainz RS. Protect your eyes: Everyday steps to sun
safety [Internet]. The Skin Cancer Foundation: New, York, NY.
[2012 Aug 13, cited 2016 June 3]. Available from
http://www.skincancer.org/prevention/sun-protection/for-youreyes/protect-your-eyes
 Spare your sight: Using shades for protection and style, 2016 UV
protection report. The Vision Council: Alexandria, VA. [updated
2016, cited 2016 June 3]. Available from:
http://www.thevisioncouncil.org/sites/default/files/TVC_UV_Rep
ort2016.pdf
 UV index scale. United States Environmental Protection Agency:
Washington, DC. [2016 Jan 5, cited 2016 June 3]. Available from
https://www.epa.gov/sunsafety/uv-index-scale-1
 UV radiation and sun exposure [Internet]. United States
Environmental Protection Agency: Washington, DC. [2016 May
18, cited 2016 June 3]. Available from
https://www3.epa.gov/radtown/uv-sun-exposure.html#about
STEVEN HOLLOWAY, PHARM.D CANDIDATE 2017
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