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The eye has a focusing lens system that brings a certain amount of light to the retina and with it of radiation that is 10 to 100 times higher than that of the skin. This type of effect is especially important for children, whose lens has a lower filtering capacity than adults.
Who risks more
Attention must be paid to elderly people who are subject to the accumulation of possible damage related to exposure to light. In this case, just think of cataracts and maculopathies, that is, real lesions to the retina, can be favored by prolonged exposure to sunlight.
The environment matters. The risks increase with the habit of exposing oneself to the sun, to the reflection of the sun’s rays on the sand, which increases its intensity by 15%, on sea and lake water, on glaciers that make the rays more intense up to 30% .
This is why it is important use sun lenses but you have to choose the filtering power based on the activities you intend to carry out and any specific risks to which you are exposed. This is why it is important to contact the ophthalmologist. For example, those who have had cases of retinal maculopathy in their family or those who work outdoors for such good need to pay attention.
Dangerous solar rays
The sun’s rays that can be harmful to the eyes are of three types: ultraviolet rays, which can be annoying for the cornea and crystalline, blue rays which can be aggressive for the retina, and infrared rays which can annoy the eyelids because they produce heat.
Let’s remember to protect ourselves according to the advice of the experts and keep in mind that exposure to the sun without eye protection can cause ailments such as redness, burning and the sensation of having a foreign body in the eye.
To follow the daily Health Pill “Protect your eyes in summer”, click and listen here
“Daily Health Pills” is the podcast series by DiLei TakeCare, curated by Federico Mereta. In each episode we talk about prevention, care and good habits.
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