Maximizing Protection from Ultraviolet Radiation Hazards: Assessing the Risks; Finding Solutions

IntroductIon Sunlight is the primary source of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) to which humans are exposed. Although a portion of the sun’s UVR is absorbed by the ozone layer of the atmosphere, significant UVR penetrates the ozone to strike the surface of the earth. For most people, the total amount of UVR received (the cumulative dose) increases linearly over time.1 Documentation that cumulative sunlight exposure causes irreversible eye damage has been part of the medical literature for more than 100 years, but public awareness of the need to protect eyes from sunlight has lagged far behind. And new findings about the nature of solar UVR hazards underscore the importance of continuous UVR protection, which for eyeglass wearers is possible only if every pair incorporates effective UVR protection. For example, we now know that a significant portion of the solar UVR incident on the cornea comes from indirect sources, including UVR striking from the side rather than the front (called “albedo”) and UVR reflected by