Just like your skin, your eyes are susceptible to damage from unprotected sun exposure. The skin around your eyes, including your eyelids, is among the thinnest and most sensitive on your body, making it particularly vulnerable to wrinkling and age spots – which is a common problem that we receive aesthetically.
But your eyes themselves can be damaged by too much sun:
- The whites of your eye:Sun damage may cause the conjunctiva to thicken and become irritated and inflamed. If the conjunctiva thickens and grows over your cornea it can interfere with your vision.
- Retina: If the macula deteriorates, it can lead to macular degeneration, a leading cause of blindness. There is some evidence of a link between macular degeneration and exposure to UV light.
- Iris:Did you know that if you have blue eyes, you may be more susceptible to UV-induced eye damage, including macular degeneration.
- Lens:UV light may lead to the development of certain types of cataracts.
- Cornea:Your cornea can become acutely sunburned, causing serious pain and temporary blindness. Chronic excessive exposure can lead to cataracts, especially if you have a poor diet with low antioxidants.
But also bear in mind, that certain medications can increase your eye’s sensitivity to the sun. This includes drugs like birth control pills, diuretics, tranquilizers, tetracycline and sulfa drugs.