>> The damage is cumulative, so it is important to protect the eyes from sunlight from childhood and even in the colder seasons.
Warnings about the damage of UV solar rays to our skin and hair are common, but little is said about the dangers they pose to our eyes, and in the eyes, these dangers are cumulative and often irreversible when excessively exposed to solar radiation. And this damage occurs year-round; it is not only in summer that this concern should exist.
According to César Ronaldo Filho, an ophthalmologist responsible for the Ocular Surgery department at the Hospital de Olhos de Vitória, ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-B rays, can cause some types of cataracts. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world, and several cases may have been caused by excessive exposure to solar rays, as they accelerate the opacification of the lens and the loss of vision.
"Excessive exposure can even cause early cataracts, that is, in younger people, since this is a disease predominantly found in older individuals. The damages of cataracts are many, but the most classic occur due to the fact that light cannot penetrate the eyes, thus impairing vision and altering color perception," he said.
Surgery is the best and most effective treatment for cataracts. César Ronaldo stated that the procedure is very safe, as cataract surgery is the most performed surgical procedure in the world. "In the surgery, we remove the cloudy lens from the eye and replace it with an artificial lens, which is the implantation of an intraocular lens," he said.
In the postoperative period, it is essential to use the eye drops prescribed by the doctor and to maintain hygiene on the face, eyelids, and hair. Always wash hands and face before and after using the eye drops. Many people also experience light sensitivity in the first few days, and wearing sunglasses provides the necessary comfort.
The doctor also reminds us that "just as we use sunscreen on our skin to protect ourselves from solar rays, we must protect our eyes. Sunglasses work for the eyes as sunscreen works for the skin, but it is important that they are quality glasses purchased from optical stores."
How to protect your eyes from UV rays:
Warnings about the damage of UV solar rays to our skin and hair are common, but little is said about the dangers they pose to our eyes, and in the eyes, these dangers are cumulative and often irreversible when excessively exposed to solar radiation. And this damage occurs year-round; it is not only in summer that this concern should exist.
According to César Ronaldo Filho, an ophthalmologist responsible for the Ocular Surgery department at the Hospital de Olhos de Vitória, ultraviolet radiation, especially UV-B rays, can cause some types of cataracts. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world, and several cases may have been caused by excessive exposure to solar rays, as they accelerate the opacification of the lens and the loss of vision.
"Excessive exposure can even cause early cataracts, that is, in younger people, since this is a disease predominantly found in older individuals. The damages of cataracts are many, but the most classic occur due to the fact that light cannot penetrate the eyes, thus impairing vision and altering color perception," he said.
Surgery is the best and most effective treatment for cataracts. César Ronaldo stated that the procedure is very safe, as cataract surgery is the most performed surgical procedure in the world. "In the surgery, we remove the cloudy lens from the eye and replace it with an artificial lens, which is the implantation of an intraocular lens," he said.
In the postoperative period, it is essential to use the eye drops prescribed by the doctor and to maintain hygiene on the face, eyelids, and hair. Always wash hands and face before and after using the eye drops. Many people also experience light sensitivity in the first few days, and wearing sunglasses provides the necessary comfort.
The doctor also reminds us that "just as we use sunscreen on our skin to protect ourselves from solar rays, we must protect our eyes. Sunglasses work for the eyes as sunscreen works for the skin, but it is important that they are quality glasses purchased from optical stores."
How to protect your eyes from UV rays:
- Use sunglasses and contact lenses with UV protection;
- Choose large lenses that are close to the eyes to prevent sunlight from coming in from the sides of the sunglasses;
- Even children need to protect their eyes;
- Sunlight is more intense between 10 AM and 2 PM, so skin exposure to ultraviolet rays is more dangerous during this time;
- Reflected light can cause burns to the eyes and skin. At high altitudes, snow-covered mountains, sandy beaches, and reflective bodies such as lakes, rivers, and the sea, solar exposure is more intense.
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