Is UV Light Harmful to My Eyes?

It can be hard to think about your eyes when you’re slathering sunscreen on your skin. But your eyes need sun protection, too. That’s because ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage more than just your skin. They can hurt your eyes, too.

So, what is UV eye damage, and how can you prevent it?

Of course, you can’t put sunscreen on your eyes, so you’ll want to think of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat as sunscreen for your eyes, says ophthalmologist Nicole Bajic, MD.

Dr. Bajic explains how UV rays can damage your eyes and shares simple ways to protect them year-round.

Your eyes and UV light

UV eye damage happens when invisible ultraviolet rays harm your eyes. These rays can come from the sun or artificial sources, like tanning beds.

“We often think about UV exposure as something that causes sunburn on skin, but it can affect your eyes, too,” Dr. Bajic says.

Some effects can show up quickly and usually get better with time. Others can appear slowly and last longer.

Short-term effects

The most common short-term effect of UV eye damage is photokeratitis.

“Photokeratitis is like a sunburn of the eye,” explains Dr. Bajic. “It can irritate the thin, clear tissue over the white part of your eye, called the conjunctiva, or your cornea — the thicker clear tissue I often call the windshield of the eye.”

This condition is usually temporary, but it can be unsettling thanks to symptoms like gritty or burning eyes, blurred vision and light sensitivity.

And it’s not only a beach-day problem. UV rays can bounce off water, pavement, sand, snow and ice. That’s why photokeratitis can also happen while skiing, snowboarding or spending time outside in bright winter conditions.

Long-term effects

Over time, repeated UV exposure can affect both the skin around your eyes and the tissues of the eye itself. That’s why long-term protection matters — it may help lower your risk for:

• Solar retinopathy
• Premature cataracts
• Macular degeneration
• Pinguecula
• Surfer’s eye (pterygium)
• Skin cancer around your eyes and eyelids
• Eye cancer

Preventing and protecting your eyes from UV damage

UV exposure can happen in any season, not just summer. And not all damage is painful or noticeable. This is why protection is important.

Sunglasses are your first line of defense against UV eye damage. But there are also other things you can do to protect your vision, Dr. Bajic says. These small but mighty habits include:

• Choosing UV-blocking sunglasses or goggles with good coverage: Look for 100% UV protection or UV400 on the label. Larger lenses or wraparound styles protect more of your eyes than smaller, low-profile frames.
• Using polarized lenses: Polarized lenses can reduce glare from water, roads and snow. Just make sure they also offer UV protection because polarization alone doesn’t block UV rays.
• Wearing hats: A wide-brimmed hat adds another layer of shade, especially when you wear it with sunglasses.
• Applying sunscreen around your eyes: Apply sunscreen to the skin around your eyes every day — but be careful not to get it in your eyes.
• Avoiding looking at the sun: Don’t look directly at the sun, even if you’re wearing sunglasses.
• Being careful around reflective surfaces: Areas around water, sand, snow, ice and pavement can reflect UV rays back toward your eyes.
• Protecting your eyes on cloudy days: Clouds don’t block all UV light, so your eyes can still be exposed when the sun isn’t bright.

UV protection today is part of caring for your future vision.

“It can be sneaky because you may not feel it happening in the moment,” Dr. Bajic notes. “But protecting your eyes now can make a real difference over time. Think of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat as simple ways to keep your eyes healthy.”