The simple way to avoid sunburned eyes is for everyone, at every age, to wear sunglasses. And—add a hat for good measure. Mar 13, AM Author: Moran Eye Center By now you know we hope that you should wear sunscreen, year-round, to protect your skin from sun damage.
For Relief: Lay a clean, cold washcloth over your closed eyes and relax. Use artificial tears. Take pain relievers and use antibiotic eye drops if your doctor recommends them The simple way to avoid sunburned eyes is for everyone, at every age, to wear sunglasses. This can take longer to heal from than a more mild eye sunburn, as well as feeling more painful with an accompanying grit-like feeling. Aside from simply being outside on a hot, sunny day, photokeratitis can also occur in snowy areas, or near large bodies of water.
People often suffer with photokeratitis when they have been skiing or hiking in snowy mountains without protective eyewear. The higher up you are, the greater the damage caused by the UV rays, so spending time in snow-topped mountains can actually have a terrible impact on your eyes. As with sunburned skin, you might not actually notice your eyes have suffered sun damage until the symptoms kick in later on in the day. These symptoms might include:. The more severe and uncomfortable your symptoms are, the more likely it is that you were exposed to UV rays for an extended period.
In really severe cases of photokeratitis, you might actually experience a period of colour changes to your vision. If you notice any changes, you might want to visit your optician to ensure that there is no lasting damage. Treating sunburned eyes mainly involves managing the discomfort and waiting for the symptoms to pass. In rare cases, there might be some lasting damage from eye sunburn. You should consider visiting your optician if you experience any of the following symptoms, as these could be an indication of more serious damage:.
Although sunburned eyes are usually harmless, there can sometimes be long-term effects which come with repeated photokeratitis over a number of years.
Severely sunburned eyes are caused by overexposure to UV ultraviolet rays, like those emitted by the sun. This condition is known as photokeratitis. Photokeratitis, or ultraviolet keratitis, is an inflammation of the cornea, which is the clear covering of the front of the eye. Protecting your eyes from UV rays is the only way to avoid getting them sunburned.
Over time, too much sun exposure can cause specific types of eye diseases to occur. These include:. When your eyes get too much exposure to UV light, temporary sunburn or permanent damage can occur in several areas, including:. The conjunctiva is a thin, mucus membrane comprised of two sections. One section covers and protects the whites of the eye bulbar conjunctiva. The other section covers the inner surface of the upper and lower eyelids palpebral conjunctiva.
Either or both sections can become sunburned. As with skin, eye sunburn can vary in intensity. The longer your exposure to UV rays, the more intense your symptoms are likely to be. The symptoms of photokeratitis can be uncomfortable. They include:. Photokeratitis usually resolves on its own within one to two days.
Treatment for this condition typically centers around reducing symptoms so you can feel more comfortable. If you suspect that you have sunburned eyes, your doctor may recommend pain relievers or antibiotic eye drops. UV rays can be intense in several different environments. Sun can reflect off of water and sand, causing UV exposure. This can occur in the following locations:. Sunlight can also reflect off of buildings, cars, and concrete streets. UV rays can affect your eyes and skin through cloud cover.
Sunlight can also reflect off of ice and snow. This type of photokeratitis is known as snow blindness. In some instances, snow blindness can cause the corneal surface to freeze or become very dry. This condition is common in the North and South Poles, but can also happen at higher altitudes where the air is thin.
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