By Linda Hardy, LDO- GA, CPOT, COA

We are in the middle of summer and vacations are in full swing. The first place most people head is the beach. There is a ton of fun to be had with swimming, surfing, fishing, and boating. Of course, the sunscreen and bathing suits are packed. Hopefully everyone has a great, protective pair of sunglasses. Not only does a pair of sunglasses protect the eyes from the direct sun rays and make seeing in the brightness more comfortable, but they can also help protect the eyes from reflections.

Reflection is light that bounces off an object. The angle at which light hits a reflective surface is called the angle of incidence, and the angle at which light bounces off a reflecting surface is called the angle of reflection. Water is a reflective surface. When light hits a surface at a low angle, like a lake at sunset, it bounces off at the same low angle and hits your eyes at full blast. When the sun sits overhead, it hits you at an oblique angle. Therefore, the sun’s glare during the evening and the morning is much more intense than during the rest of the day.

Sunlight is composed of energy that includes visible light, UV light, and infrared light. Exposure to UV light has been linked to an increased risk of damage to the eye and its surrounding parts including the eyelid, cornea, lens, conjunctiva, and macula.

Exposure to sunlight in moderation is healthy. However, the longer your eyes are exposed to UV light, and the greater the intensity of light, the higher risk you have of developing a serious eye condition. Too much light causes deterioration or abnormal growths, which can lead to partial or complete blindness. Light reflection from glare can also cause immediate pain and long-term sight issues. There are several eye diseases that can be caused by too much sun exposure. These conditions can be in one or both eyes and progress at different rates.

Cataracts are one of the most well-known conditions that can worsen more rapidly due to light exposure, especially due to reflections. This condition is a clouding of the lens in the eye. This leads to blurry vision and sensitivity to glare.
Cancer of the eyelid is another huge concern. Eyelids are at risk for developing forms of carcinoma or melanoma. Signs of this cancer are lesions or bumps that are irregular in shape, bleed occasionally, change in appearance and thickness, irregular texture, unusual eyelash loss, red eye that does not respond to treatment.

Corneal sunburn is short but intense. The UV rays can damage the clear tissue on the front of the eye, resulting in corneal flash burns. This is prevalent among fishermen and surfers. These people are regularly exposed to reflections of UV light off water.

Pinguecula and pterygiums are both growths on the cornea that are caused by UV exposure. A pinguecula is a yellow-white deposit on the conjunctiva next to the limbus of the eye. It is a wedged shaped, fibrous growth. A pterygium is the pinguecula that has spread to the cornea. These growths can permanently disfigure the eye. They can also cause blurry vision and discomfort.

Vacations are fun, but it is important to keep your eyes protected. Make sure that sunglasses with 100% UV protection are worn anytime while outside especially around water. Reflections occur when the UV energy is at its strongest and can cause the worst damage especially after prolonged exposure. Stay safe and have a wonderful summer vacation!