UV light may help identify sun-damaged eyes

Children may have ocular damage caused by exposure to sunlight earlier than initially thought, a group of Australian researchers contends.

Researchers with the University of New South Wales took photographs of the eyes of 71 children between the ages of 3 and 15 years. They compared the standard ophthalmic imaging with a new technique designed to “capture the eye after illuminating it with ultraviolet light,” according to a news story. The main outcome measure was the presence of areas of increased fluorescence as detected by the ultraviolet photos, or presence of pinguecula detected by standard photography.

Established pinguecula on standard photography was found in seven of the 71 eyes; all were at least 13 years old. A total of 23 eyes had increased fluorescence detected with the ultraviolet photography, including the original seven who had established pinguecula. The remaining 16 eyes had changes that were only discernible with ultraviolet photography.

The researchers said they planned to follow the children further, and hoped that education about shielding eyes from direct sunlight may help reverse the effects, or at least slow the progression.

The study is published in the February issue of American Journal of Ophthalmology.