Not wearing your sunglasses outside, sun glare, or looking at the sun can cause your eyes to become sunburned or worse. When your eyes become sunburned, it is called photokeratitis. You do not have to stress too much if you experience this condition, as it is a common occurrence if you have spent time in the sun without protection. It will typically clear itself up in a few days.
If you work or spend a lot of time in areas with a high volume of UV light, it can lead to serious eye issues such as cataracts. Since sun damage can be serious, you may be wondering if sun damage is something your eyes can heal from or not.
Healing from Sun Damage
Your eyes can in fact heal from sun damage if the damage has been caused by a mild case of photokeratitis. In most cases, this condition will heal itself in a short timeframe if you get out of the sun immediately. Symptoms of photokeratitis include:
Bloodshot eyes
Sensitivity to bright lights
Watery eyes
Feeling that you have sand or something in your eyes
The symptoms are signs of eye damage, but they are typically short-term effects. It is important to remember that the more you are out in the sun without UV protection, you increase your risk of getting more severe symptoms such as having difficulty seeing.
You also increase your chances of getting conditions like cataracts or age-related macular degeneration in the future caused by exposure to UV rays with no protection. These eye diseases are not as easy to get rid of and will require you to work with your eye doctor to determine the best way of treating your sun-damaged eyes.
Protect Your Eyes from Sun Damage
When working in the sun or enjoying leisure time outside, it is crucial that you wear proper eye protection. From UV light blocking safety glasses to stylish sunglasses that block UV rays, there are endless choices to keep your eyes safe from sun damage. While we tend to think summertime is the time for sunglasses, glare from snow and ice can also damage your eyes, so be sure to wear your sunglasses all year round.
Schedule Your Eye Exam Today!
If you suspect you have sun damage or would like to browse our selection of designer sunglasses, contact Dittman Eyecare today to schedule an exam!