Monday, June 23, 2003
Women should apply sunscreen before they put on their makeup.
STAMFORD ADVOCATE
As Neo, Trinity and Morpheus battle to save humankind, one thing they won't have to worry about is ultraviolet rays from the sun damaging their eyes.
The ultra-cool black-leather ensembles in "The Matrix: Reloaded" include sunglasses, the best way to protect eyes from UV radiation.
The Matrix characters are more concerned with running up walls while dodging bullets than practicing sun safety, but ultraviolet light can damage the eyes of mere mortals in several ways.
Ultraviolet light is a part of the light spectrum that is invisible to the human eye. Part of sunlight is UV light, which creates warmth, light, photosynthesis in plants, and vitamin D synthesis in the body.
But UV can also damage the surface of the eye, called the cornea, and cause cataracts, macular degeneration, scarring on the cornea and skin cancer of the eyelids and area around the eye.
"The big send-home message is that the damage is cumulative and much of it is preventable," says Robert Fucigna, an ophthalmologist with a practice in Stamford, Conn. "The damage starts in the early years, so you really have to watch out for the kids."
May is Skin Cancer Awareness Month, and most people know that too much sun is bad for the skin, but not as many realize that the sun can damage the eyes, too.
Order the coating
Not only should everyone wear sunglasses, especially children, but regular glasses and contact lenses should be coated to make sure they block UV rays, as well.
Also, anyone who is out in the sun should wear a wide-brimmed hat for further protection.
"You need to put sunscreen on before you go out, and you need to put it on the eyelids. But be careful not to get it into the eyes," Fucigna says. "Women should apply sunscreen before putting their makeup on."
Makeup that incorporates sunscreen isn't as effective as using separate products, he says, but it's better than nothing.
Blue-eyed people are especially vulnerable to sun damage. "Blue eyes is a sign of less density of pigment in your body, which includes the ... eyes as well as the skin," he says.
The sun's UV radiation contains two kinds of radiation, UVA and UVB, and both can damage your eyes. UVB can cause a sunburn on the cornea, the clear membrane that covers the front of your eyes.
Corneal sunburn, called photokeratistis, can occur after long hours at the beach or on the ski slopes without sunglasses or goggles. It isn't permanent, but it can be painful and cause temporary vision loss.
Sun damage also can cause scars on the surface of the eye, called pinquecula, which are raised, yellowish, benign lumps that grow near the nose. If the growth covers the cornea, it's called a pterygium. These can be removed with surgery.
More serious effects of UV radiation are cataracts and macular degeneration, Fucigna says. Cataracts -- the clouding of the lens of the eye, the No. 1 cause of reversible blindness -- and macular degeneration are the leading causes of decreased vision among people older than 60.
Cataracts can be treated with surgery. Macular degeneration, a progressive, painless deterioration of the macula -- the area at the center of the retina responsible for detailed vision -- has no known cure.
Danger of indoor tanning
Ultraviolet radiation is not limited to the sun. People who use indoor tanning salons are exposed to UV rays as well.
In February, Fucigna, representing the Connecticut Society of Eye Physicians, testified before the Public Health Committee of the state Legislature in favor of a bill requiring tanning salons to provide clients with UV-protective eyewear. "It's the same UV rays as the sun," he says.
He told the committee members that tanning goggles that are not UV protective can cause damage by blocking the light, which allows the pupils to dilate and exposes the retina to more UV rays.
"If you're a frequent user, buy your own -- it will save you a fortune down the road," he says.