Four Cosmetically Disturbing Eye Problems You Can Get from Not Wearing Sunglasses!

Recently, I’ve been asked by patients if they should be wearing sunglasses. There has been  a lot of misinformation going around about how not wearing glasses helps improve your intake of vitamin D and help regulate your circadian rhythm. However, studies show that with or without sunglasses, you are still getting the benefits of vitamin D and circadian rhythm benefits. Scientists and researchers have long documented the side effects of sun damage and the eye. This is a reason that sunglasses were invented in the first place!

Here is a list of eye diseases that are cosmetically disturbing and potentially vision threatening  that you can get from prolonged sun exposure. 

1. Pinguecula: A pinguecula is a yellowish, slightly raised growth that appears on the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white part of the eye (sclera), typically near the cornea and the nose. It's a benign (non-cancerous) condition caused by changes in the conjunctiva, this is frequently due to factors like prolonged sun exposure, dust, and wind. While generally harmless, a pinguecula can cause irritation, redness, or a gritty sensation in the eye.



2. Pterygium: Pterygium is a raised, fleshy, triangular-shaped growth that starts in the corner of your eye. Long-term exposure to UV light is the main cause. It may not cause symptoms, but sometimes, it can irritate your eye, and if it grows too much, it can affect your vision by causing irregular astigmatism and even vision loss. 



3. Skin Cancer of the Eyelid:There are several different types of skin cancer that you can get around your eyelid area. The most common peri-ocular cancer is called Basal Cell Carcinoma seen in the photos below.. Skin Cancer is linked to prolonged sun exposure. 



4. Wrinkles from squinting in the sun! This last one is mainly cosmetic. However, squinting in the sun is linked to crow’s feet and forehead wrinkles. Of course these can be helped with things such as Botox and Dysport. You can check out ESPE Aesthetics in our office for any of your wrinkle prevention needs!
    

The most important takeaway: Sunglasses do work, please wear them!