World Sight Day (WSD) is approaching on October 13 and Belhoul European Hospital’s Eye Specialist Surgeon Dr Samir Jamal has some advice for UV radiation eye damage and protection.
Organised by, Vision 2020: The Right to Sight, WSD focuses on global attention on visual impairment and blindness. Their aim is to eliminate avoidable blindness by the year 2020.
According to Dr Samir UV radiation is a large cause of eye damage and he says UV light can seriously be harmful if a certain balance is upset, meaning, the protective bio-chemicals and the cumulative effect of exposure and photo metabolites. He says clear blue irises are more sensitive to UV radiation than dark ones.
Tissue damage to the eyes may occur in two ways, molecular breakage through resonance with UV WL of proteins and nucleic acids or by free radicals (FR) formation. This FR process requires three components; the presence of Dye (pigments), oxygen and short WL radiation.
Fortunately FR are neutralized and disarmed by some specialized molecules called antioxidants such as omnipresent superoxide, dismutase, vitamins E and C, carotene and gluthathione peroxidase. Shortage of these antioxidants can tip the balance toward more vulnerability to light damage.
Dr Samir says it is also extremely important to remember that clouds do not filter out UV, hence they do not prevent sun burn. UV radiation is reflected off sand, water and snow therefore beach umbrellas do not provide full protection.
“It is extremely important to protect your eyes from the effects of UV radiation otherwise long term damage can be severe,” says Dr Samir.
Although photo protective mechanisms of the eye degrade with age, the risk of light damage is considerably diminished by the use of sunglasses, the reduction of exposure to light and consumption of antioxidant rich food supplements. Sunglasses absorb the visible light, improve dark adaptation, enhance the contrast sensitivity and reduce glare and give better colour contrast.
