With the arrival of summer, when the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays are strongest, ophthalmologists – medical doctors who specialize in the diagnosis, medical and surgical treatment of eye diseases and conditions – are warning the public that overexposure to these rays can burn the eyes' corneas and cause painful, temporary blindness. The American Academy of Ophthalmology urges the public to wear sunglasses and hats when enjoying the outdoors this summer and all year long. A number of scientific studies indicate that continuous years of unprotected exposure to the sun without eye protection can damage your eyes by contributing to cataracts and macular degeneration and even lead to tumors that may require surgical removal. A lesser known danger of sun exposure, however, is the more immediate risk of sunburnt eyes or photokeratitis, also termed ultraviolet keratitis or snow blindness. Light-colored eyes are at increased risk for this condition because they have less pigmentation in multiple layers of the eye than those with darker eyes.
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