underestimated danger
How to recognize and protect yourself from sunburn in the eye
© Maksym Povozniuk / Adobe Stock
The sun enriches our lives in many ways. However, we often forget the dangers that lie behind an overdose of the sun’s rays. If you’re not careful, you’ll not only get a sunburn on your skin, but also in your eyes.
High temperatures and sunshine as far as the eye can see! We’ve waited a long time, summer is finally here. While awareness of sun protection has increased in recent years thanks to social media, we often forget that not only our skin but also our eyes need to be protected from the harmful effects of the sun. Because a sunburn in the eye, too photokeratitis called, is anything but pleasant and can very painful be. Luckily there are some Precautionswith which you can optimally protect your eyes.
Sunburn in the eye: how does it happen?
Eye sunburn occurs when the eyes are exposed to excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation. The sun’s UV rays can damage the cornea and conjunctiva, similar to sunburn on the skin. The UV-B rays are mainly responsible for this, but the UV-A rays can also play a role. Direct exposure to intense sunlight, particularly during the brightest hours of the day (usually between 10am and 4pm), significantly increases the risk of sunburn on the eye.
These symptoms can indicate an eye sunburn
Symptoms of sunburn in the eye can some hours appear after prolonged contact and express themselves through:
- pain and burning in the eye,
- redness and swelling of the eyelids and conjunctiva,
- blurred vision and sensitivity against bright light,
- the feeling, sand or one foreign body to keep in mind, right?
- excessive tear flow.
The good news: after 8-12 hours but the symptoms should slowly subside.
That helps urgently
The first thing you should do is your eyes Quiet treat yourself and of course immediately get out of the sun. It is best to be in one darkened room stop and eyes to cool sufficiently. One is suitable for this cold compressthe pain and relieve inflammation can. Drinking enough water is also important. However, if your symptoms are particularly severe, we recommend a:n Ophthalmologist:doctor visit. This:r can make an accurate diagnosis and a appropriate treatment method recommend.
Prevent eye sunburn
coneflower and sunglasses are here that A and O. While hats are recommended when there is little sun exposure, the sun should be avoided during the most intense hours, usually between 10am and 4pm. Sunglasses with UV protection are the best protection against sunburn. When buying your sunglasses, make sure that they offer 100% UV protection. A good pair of sunglasses with a sufficiently large frame can also help protect the eyes from the sun’s side rays.
Sources used: apotheken-umschau.de, www.augeninfo.de