Experts warn against taking UV risk lightly

Al Ain: Exposing oneself to direct sunlight during the summer months carries with it a serious risk of damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation, health experts have warned.

Many people go to beaches to sunbathe and others wander around without proper protection and completely unaware of the perils of sun damage to unprotected eyes and skin. The UV radiation of the sun is at it highest level during the summer months in the UAE.

The peak radiation time is noon. "This is the seasonal increase in the UV that filters through the protective ozone layer that absorbs much of the dangerous radiation," said a meteorologist.

The UV radiation, he said, starts increasing in May in the UAE, reaching its most dangerous levels in the months of July and August, before dropping to its lowest levels by December.

Dr Riaz Ahmad, a physician at the Emirates Clinic and Medical Centre in Al Ain, said people generally believe that heat and UV radiation mainly damage the skin and causes heat-related illnesses. "People must know that, just like the skin, the eye too can suffer severe damage from the UV rays," he said. The effects of UV radiation are, in fact, more detrimental to the eye than to any other part of the body, he noted. Around 99 per cent of the radiation is absorbed by the anterior structures of the eye but some of it still reaches the light-sensitive retina, he warned.

Modern research has proven the link between UV exposure and the premature ageing of eye lens or cataract. "Individuals who work or play with lengthy exposure to sunlight are at greatest risk," said Dr Ahmad.

Dr Shabbir Saifuddin, an eye specialist in Bur Dubai, said the onset of presbyopia (inability to see nearby objects) is advanced by an average of five years in the Gulf region than in other climates. "The cause is increased solar radiation and the lack of protective measures," he said.

Outdoor workers in the UAE, he said, are prone to photokeratitis, or sunburn to the cornea. Dr Saifuddin said photokeratitis is a reversible condition, but it can easily be avoided by wearing proper sunglasses between noon and 3pm.

The experts said UV radiation can play a contributory role in the development of ocular disorders such as cataract, pterygium, cancer of the skin around the eye, photokeratitis and corneal degenerative changes, and may contribute to age-related macular degeneration.

Cataracts are a major cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. Pterygium is a growth of tissue on the white of the eye that may extend onto the clear cornea where it can block vision.

He said sunglasses sold in many countries unfortunately do not comply with international standards and specifications required for the UV protection. Many dark glasses are sold without mentioning specifications in the region, he said.

Children, elderly need special attention

• Wear protective sunglasses even if the weather seems cloudy
• Use dark curtains during day time at home
• Avoid driving between noon and 5pm
• Get eyes tested regularly to maintain health
• Reduce the amount of time spent in the sunlight
• Avoid going to the beach or boating and fishing during periods when radiation is at its peak
• Avoid wearing short-sleeved shirts
• Avoid sunbathing or swimming at the maximum radiation time
• Use sunblock, protective clothes and a hat before going out in the sun
• Consume plenty of water
• Pay special attention to keep children and the elderly well protected in the sun