It is spring when green buds and spring flowers encourage outdoor activities. Moreover, as the COVID-19 distancing guidelines were lifted, more and more people are heading out to the mountains in earnest. These days, when outdoor activities are suddenly increasing, you need to be careful as exposure to UV rays can harm your eye health.
Many people apply sunscreen, such as sunscreen, to protect their skin when going out. However, most people overlook that UV rays can harm eye health. According to the wavelength, UV rays are divided into UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. Of these, UV-B and UV-C are almost absorbed by the cornea, but UV-A is partially absorbed by the cornea and lens, and some of it can reach and affect the retina. In particular, strong and prolonged UV exposure can affect the occurrence of cataracts in the lens and macular degeneration in the retina.
Increased number of young cataract patients in their 30s and 40s
A cataract is a disease in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, and the light entering the eye does not pass through the cloudy lens properly, resulting in blurred vision. Cataract usually occurs in the elderly over the age of 60, but recently, the number of cataract patients is also increasing among young people in their 30s and 40s. Professor Lee Sook-yeon of the Department of Ophthalmology at Korea University Guro Hospital said, “Most of the cataracts in young people occur when there are systemic diseases such as trauma, diabetes, atopy, or long-term use of drugs such as steroids. Exposure to UV light due to light or outdoor activities also seems to have some effect.”
When a cataract develops, vision deteriorates. In addition, double vision, in which objects overlap, and eye blindness, which is a symptom in which vision is restored in dark places, appear. Objects appear blurry or distorted, and bright light appears scattered in the shape of stars. In addition, there are cases in which the color of the object appears different, such as red or yellow. If the symptoms are left untreated, they will continue to worsen, so it is necessary to seek treatment in a timely manner.
Cataracts progress slowly and get worse with age, and there is no way to repair the cataracted lens. Therefore, it is recommended to continue the drug treatment to slow the cataract progression as much as possible, and then replace it with an intraocular lens in severe cases that make daily life uncomfortable.
Professor Lee said, “In order to prevent cataracts, it is necessary to eat a balanced diet, to avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, as well as to treat accompanying systemic diseases such as diabetes, and to avoid excessive sun exposure as much as possible. ” advises.
When things look distorted, macular degeneration
Macular degeneration is a disease in which the macula, located in the center of the retina in the eye, is degenerated and causes visual impairment. The macula is an important area responsible for more than 90% of visual acuity, and if there is a problem here, not only will the object look curved, but if it is not treated in a timely manner, visual acuity may deteriorate, and even if treated, vision may not be restored.
Macular degeneration is one of the leading causes of blindness in people over the age of 65. However, according to recent statistics, the number of young patients in their 40s and 50s is gradually increasing. The causes of macular degeneration are genetic factors as well as environmental factors such as tobacco and obesity, and exposure to UV rays or intake of saturated fatty acids is considered to be related to its occurrence.
Once onset, macular degeneration progresses rapidly, but since there are few subjective symptoms or early symptoms, it is often discovered following the disease has progressed to a certain extent. There are many cases where the time of treatment is overlooked as a natural phenomenon of aging, which causes things to look distorted or dull. If an object looks curved when viewed with one eye closed, or if there is a change in vision, it is better to visit an ophthalmologist and get an examination. Early diagnosis and timely treatment can prevent serious vision loss.
Sunglasses are essential when going out for eye health… Impact on children’s eyesight formation
Considering the effect of UV rays on the eyes, it is good to refrain from outdoor activities on days when UV rays are strong and, if unavoidable, always wear sunglasses or wear a parasol or hat to protect your eyes. When choosing sunglasses, be sure to check whether they block UV rays. Sunglasses with poor UV protection are not effective even when worn. In particular, sunglasses that are dark in color but lack UV protection are even more dangerous. In addition, dark-colored sunglasses reduce the amount of visible light entering the eye, making the pupil larger, which acts as the diaphragm of the eye. When choosing sunglasses, it is essential to check the UV protection factor first, as it can be very fatal if a larger amount of UV light is absorbed when the pupil is enlarged. Also, avoid wearing blue sunglasses.
Professor Lee said, “Ultraviolet rays can have a great effect on the formation of vision in infancy, so special attention is required. Therefore, it is recommended that children wear sunglasses on days when UV rays are strong.”
