The sun’s UV rays are as harmful to our eyes as they are to our skin, says ophthalmic surgeon Mario Vella.

“Most of us are aware of the dangerous effects ultraviolet rays have on our skin, but few of us realise the danger imposed on our eyes,” Mr Vella claims.

Exposure to UV radiation may have a number of short- and long-term consequences.

Short-term ones include corneal problems, which lead to photokeratitis, which is the formation of multiple tiny erosions on the corneal surface and which can be quite painful. Other symptoms are tearing, redness and a sandy, gritty feeling.

“These usually settle within 24 hours when diagnosed and treated with the appropriate eye ointment as advised by your doctor. Fortunately, this is usually temporary and rarely causes permanent damage to the eyes,” assures Mr Vella.

Another dangerous habit is looking directly at the sun. If the exposure is for a short duration, there is usually no long-term damage to the retina – the nerve layer we see with – and after a short period of blurring of the central part of vision, this returns back to normal.

However, staring at the sun for long may have irreversible repercussions.

“Looking directly to the sun for a longer period of time may cause permanent damage to the retina with resultant permanent loss of central vision,” warns Mr Vella.

“This sort of damage tends to happen when people look for prolonged periods at the sun without protection, especially during a solar eclipse. It is important here to issue a warning – never look directly at the sun.”

Studies also show that long-term exposure to the sun’s harmful rays may contribute to the development of macular degeneration.

“Although direct sun exposure doesn’t cause a cataract to develop overnight, it has been shown that more sun exposure can enhance or accelerate the development of significant cataracts when you spend more time in the sun.”

About 10 per cent of skin cancer is first discovered on the eyelids.

The skin of the eyelid is thin, delicate and anatomically exposed to the sun every single time we go outdoors. The most common type of eyelid cancer is basal cell carcinoma.

Long-term exposure to UV light is also a risk factor in the development of pterygium, a lesion that invades the medial corner of the eyes and better known to the Maltese as ‘qarnita’, and pinguecula (a yellowish, slightly raised lesion that forms on the surface tissue of the white part of your eye). Both may require surgery excision for removal and both may recur.

Everyone is at risk of developing damage to the eyes if appropriate eye protection is not worn. However, males predominantly tend to have more eye problems related to sun exposure when compared to females, even though females are not immune.

So if the sun is everywhere, how can one prevent eye damage?

“Besides not looking directly at the sun, one should invest in good-quality sunglasses and wear them regularly when outside. Also, wear sunscreen around the eyes,” suggests Mr Vella.

He adds that it is important to wear eye protection throughout the year, not just in the hotter seasons as UV light from the sun penetrates even on a cloudy day.

When buying a new pair of sunglasses, first and foremost check that they block out 99 to 100 per cent of both UVA and UVB radiation. Secondly, when wearing them, the sunglasses should screen out 75 to 90 per cent of visible light.

Mr Vella emphasises that even if you are wearing contact lenses that have UV protection, you still need to wear sunglasses to protect the surrounding tissues of the eyes. He also says that most quality sunglasses have polarised lenses but they do not need to be so.

“You don’t have to have a polarised lens to block out UV radiation. However, most people are much more comfortable wearing polarised lenses, as they do an excellent job of blocking reflections and glare.”

One should also be wary about one’s occupation.

“One of the jobs commonly associated with artificial UV exposure is arc welding and again, it is important to wear the necessary head gear and filtering masks to avoid eye damage.”

Recommendations

• Read the labels: always look for labels that clearly state that the sunglasses block 99–100 per cent of UV-A and UV-B rays. Never sacrifice fashion for function.

• Check often to make sure the sunglasses fit well and are not damaged. Scratched lenses can cause reflections and should be discarded.

• Choose sunglasses that fit your face and lifestyle but that are large enough to shield the eyes from most angles.

• Find a wide-brimmed hat to wear with the sunglasses. Wide-brimmed hats greatly reduce the amount of UV radiation that reaches the eyes.

• Do not forget children. Children need sunglasses too.