Eyes, UV & Sun Damage

Many people enjoying the outdoors in greater Boston and throughout Massachusetts don’t realize the many ways and the degree to which the sun can damage your eyes and the surrounding tissue. Too much UV light can affect the surface of the cornea and actually cause an “eye sunburn” or “photokeratitis” which is uncomfortable and may temporarily impact vision. Inside the eye UV light can injure the crystalline lens turning it yellow and actually hasten the formation of cataracts. If too much sunlight reaches the retina, UV light can also cause varying types of “solar retinitis” and increase the risk of macular degeneration both of which can be sight threatening. 

All of us are susceptible to eye and eyelid cancers and other types of eye damage from the sun. Even though the eyelid is designed to protect the eye itself from the sun, eyelid skin is very thin and fragile and can be easily damaged by the sun. The number and types of eyelid cancers are many and a cause for concern among everyone. 

Thus, we should ALL take simple but effective precautions to protect our eyes and the structures inside and around our eyes: 

Wear a Brimmed Hat 

Use Sunscreen 

Wear Proper UV Protecting Sunglasses 

Using some common sense precautions goes a long way to protecting your eye health and vision. If you or someone you know has questions about eyes and sunlight or proper UV and sun protection for eyes, please feel free to call D’Ambrosio Eye Care at 800-325-3937 and schedule an eye examination or visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare. 

Staffed by a team of Ophthalmologists, Optometrists, Opticians, technical and administrative staff who provide eye examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment of cornea disease including cornea transplants, care for diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses, eyewear and optical services. 

D'Ambrosio Eye Care is a leading eye and LASIK care practice serving the greater Boston and central Massachusetts area including Acton, Athol, Berlin, Bolton, Boylston, Boxborough, Chelmsford, Clinton, Concord, Fitchburg, Gardner, Greenfield, Groton, Harvard, Hudson, Lancaster, Leominster, Lexington, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Marlborough, Milford, Shelburne Falls, Shirley, Sterling, Stow, Sudbury, Templeton, Westminster, Westborough, Winchendon and Worcester, Massachusetts.