What eye problems are related to exposure to sunlight?
Ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun may help cause cataracts. A cataract is the gradual clouding of the eye’s lens. This clouding can cause loss of vision. Your vision can then be restored only with surgery. Some evidence suggests that UV light may also contribute to development of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). AMD is a disease that damages the back part of the eye and can cause a loss of central vision. People who spend a lot of time outdoors in sunny climates tend to have growths on the outer coat of the eye called pterygium or pingueculum. It is thought that wearing sunglasses may reduce the risk of developing these growths. Exposure to sunlight increases the risk of skin cancer, and the eyelids are a common place for skin cancers. Intense sunlight can cause sunburn of the cornea (the clear outer layer on the front of the eye). This may also be called snow blindness.
