Do both eyes get sunburned? Let's talk about (Photokeratitis)!

Have you ever spent a long day playing in the sun, walking on the beach, or welding, and when you come home in the evening, your eyes are red, watery, and painful, like you have sand in your eyes? Sometimes your eyes are swollen and it's hard to look at the light, right? If you've had that experience, it could be due to a condition called photokeratitis. Simply put, it's like our skin getting sunburned, but our eyes are getting sunburned by UV rays.

What exactly is this (Photokeratitis)?

Photokeratitis, simply put, is when the surface of our eyes, the conjunctiva , the white membrane that covers the white part of the eye around the black eye, and the cornea , the clear part in front of the black eye, are damaged by exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. It's just like when our skin gets sunburned, it turns red and hurts. But this happens to the eyes. Most of the time, this condition affects both eyes.

Imagine, when we go to a beach, or when we go hiking, or when we go to a snowy area, not only the sun, but also the sunlight reflected from water, sand, and snow directly hits our eyes. Also, the excessive light from welding, lamps used in tanning beds, and some medical lights can also cause this condition. Some call this "snow blindness" because it is caused by the UV rays reflected from the snow. Among welders, this is also known as "Arc eye" or "Welder's flash."

What are the main types of photokeratitis?

This condition (Photokeratitis) can be divided into two main types:

1. Acute Photokeratitis: This occurs when you are exposed to a high amount of UV rays suddenly, over a short period of time. It is usually temporary and gets better within a few days.

2. Chronic Photokeratitis: This occurs due to prolonged, gradual exposure to low levels of UV rays. This type is less common than the acute type.

How do you recognize the symptoms of this?

If you have photokeratitis, you may experience one or more of these symptoms:

• Eye pain or redness: This is the main symptom. It may feel like the inside of your eyes is hurting.
• Tears/watery eyes: It may just feel like tears are coming.
• Blurred vision: You may not be able to see clearly, and your vision may appear blurry.
• Eye swelling: The area around the eyes or eyelids may swell.
• Sensitivity to light: Eyes become too blue to look at, and even a small amount of light is difficult to tolerate.
• Feeling like there are grains of sand in the eyes: It can feel like something is stuck inside the eyes, like they are tearing.

In addition to this, there may be some other features:

• Seeing halos: When you look at a light, you may see colored rings around it.
• Headache: A severe headache may occur.
• Eyelid twitching: It may feel like an eyelid is just twitching.
• Temporary loss of vision: This is a bit rare, but it can happen.
• Seeing things change color: This is also a very rare occurrence.

These symptoms usually last between 6 and 24 hours. But in most cases, they will be completely gone within 48 hours. The longer you are exposed to (UV) rays, the more severe your symptoms may become.

What are the main causes of photokeratitis?

Ultraviolet (UV) rays are what cause this damage to our eyes. Both UV-A and UV-B rays from the sun can cause short-term and long-term damage to our eyes, and can also affect our vision. UV-C rays are absorbed by our ozone layer, so they do not harm our eyes.

In addition to direct sunlight, other sources of UV rays that can cause photokeratitis include:

• Sunlight that reflects off things like snow, ice, water, sand, or cement and hits our eyes.
• (Tanning beds) or lamps used in cabins.
• Laser light.
• Mercury vapor lamps or halogen desk lamps.
• Lightning strikes or electric sparks.
• Arc welding equipment or photographic flood lamps.
• Light used for disinfection or as a medical treatment.

Important: Looking directly at the Sun, especially during a solar eclipse, can cause long-term and significant damage to our retina, which can lead to a burn. So never do it.

Who is most at risk of developing this condition?

You are at higher risk of developing photokeratitis if you:

• If you are someone who spends a lot of time outdoors and in the sun, doing things like hiking, walking in the woods, skiing, or swimming.
• If you use a (sunlamp), (tanning bed), or if you work or spend time in an environment with a (UV) light source.
• If you live in very high altitude areas (high exposure to UV rays).

What are the possible complications of photokeratitis?

Long-term exposure to even small amounts of UV radiation can increase your risk of developing cataracts or macular degeneration in the future. Exposure to UV rays accumulates over time. Also, long-term exposure to UV rays can cause tissue elevations on the surface of the eye. These are called pingueculae and pterygia . These can be prevented by wearing sunglasses when outdoors.

Additionally, short-wavelength blue and violet light emitted from things like (LED) lights, computers, and smartphones can also be harmful to our retinas and may be a risk factor for macular degeneration later in life.

How is Photokeratitis diagnosed?

If you have these symptoms, you should see an eye care specialist. He or she will examine your eyes and ask you questions about your recent activities and work environment. An eye doctor can tell you exactly if your eyes have been damaged and how severe it is.

The doctor will put a liquid called fluorescein in your eye and then perform a slit lamp exam . This is a special dye. It can clearly identify any irregularities or scratches on the surface of your cornea.

What are the treatments for (Photokeratitis)?

As soon as you start to feel symptoms, go indoors immediately. Stay in a slightly dark room. If you wear contact lenses, remove them. Never rub your eyes.

Your doctor may suggest simple treatments you can do at home, such as:

• Close your eyes and relax.
• Close your eyes and place a cold washcloth over them.
• Wear sunglasses to reduce exposure to light.
• Use artificial tears. These can be purchased at the pharmacy.
• To reduce pain, take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen (e.g., Advil®, Motrin®) available from the pharmacy.

Usually, this condition resolves on its own within a few hours or days. If medical treatment is needed, your doctor may prescribe eye drops to prevent infection.

Always seek medical advice: If you experience any symptoms such as vision loss, or if the pain lasts for more than two days, be sure to see a doctor.

How can we protect ourselves from Photokeratitis?

You can do these things to protect yourself from photokeratitis:

• Wear proper eye protection: Sunglasses or snow goggles. Researchers say that if you spend time outdoors, wear sunglasses or goggles that block or absorb 99% to 100% of UV rays. The best choice is wrap-around sunglasses or sunglasses with side panels. This blocks harmful UV rays from all sides. Even on a cloudy day, glare from snow, sand, or water can burn your eyes, so sunglasses are essential.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat or visor when going outdoors.
• If you are exposed to UV radiation at work, use appropriate protective equipment.
• If you work or play in a sunny environment, it's a good idea to wear UV-absorbing contact lenses.
• See an ophthalmologist at least once a year for a complete eye exam.

What can you expect if you develop photokeratitis?

The good news about photokeratitis is that it is almost always a temporary condition and your symptoms usually go away completely within a few hours or two to three days. Many symptoms can be relieved with simple treatments that you can do at home.

You will have to stay indoors for a day or two until you recover.

When should you see a doctor about photokeratitis?

If you experience symptoms such as eye pain or vision loss after being outdoors or in an area with UV rays, you should definitely see a healthcare provider, a doctor. Tell them that you were exposed to sunlight or a source of UV light, such as welding equipment. Your doctor is the best person to determine whether your symptoms are caused by photokeratitis.

He or she will advise you on what you can do at home to find relief and when you should seek medical help.

Finally, remember (Take-Home Message)

Photokeratitis is a painful, but temporary eye condition. It's easy to protect yourself from it – always wear sunglasses or other eye protection that blocks/absorbs UV rays when you're outdoors (even on cloudy days). Also, if your job exposes you to a light source, use protective eyewear that fits the type of light you're exposed to. See an eye doctor at least once a year to check on your eye health, as this can help you identify any eye problems early. Your eyes are precious, so it's your responsibility to take care of them!

` Photokeratitis, UV rays, eye burns, snow blindness, arc eye, eye protection, sunglasses