What are floaters?
You may sometimes see small specks or clouds moving in your field of vision. They are called floaters. You can often see them when looking at a plain background, like a blank wall or blue sky. Floaters are actually tiny clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous, the clear jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of your eye.
While these objects look like they are in front of your eye, they are actually floating inside. What you see are the shadows they cast on the retina, the nerve layer at the back of the eye that senses light and allows you to see. Floaters can have different shapes: little dots, circles, lines, clouds or cobwebs.
Is UV Radiation Dangerous to Our Eyes?
Is UV Radiation Dangerous to Our Eyes? The following are eye disorders commonly associated with the sun and UV radiation:
Macular degeneration — Some studies suggest that repeated exposure to UV radiation can contribute to development of this eye disease. Macular degeneration is an eye disorder, which causes damage to the central part of the retina, called the macula. It is the major cause of irreversible vision loss in Caucasians 50 yrs and older in the United States.
Cataracts — Exposure to UV radiation over several years may lead to cataracts, a clouding of the lens. Approximately 13 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts.
Burns — Over-exposure to ultraviolet light, such as a day at the beach without proper eye protection, can cause a temporary, but painful burn to the surface of the eye (cornea), similar to a sunburn on the skin. Artificial light from sources like welding arcs or tanning beds, along with reflected sunlight from snow, water and concrete are particularly dangerous. Staring directly at the sun can permanently scar the retina, the area at the back of the eye responsible for vision.
Pterygium — An abnormal, but usually non-cancerous, growth on the corner of the eye near the nose. A pterygium can grow over the cornea, partially blocking vision and sometimes requires surgery to be removed.
Cancer — Repeated over-exposure to UV rays can cause cancer of the eyelids and surrounding skin.
