Ultraviolet radiation and the human eye

Nunomura, Carlos Yuji; Sousa, Sidney Julio de Faria e

doi:10.5935/0004-2749.2021-0354

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REVIEW ARTICLE • Arq. Bras. Oftalmol. 86 (6) • 2023 • https://doi.org/10.5935/0004-2749.2021-0354 copy

Ultraviolet radiation and the human eye

Radiações ultravioletas e o olho humano

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

ABSTRACT

This work is a critical review of the current understanding of the effect of ultraviolet radiation on the eye. It deals with the classification of this radiation, environmental level, and the factors that determine it, along with penetration into the human eye, toxicity to ocular structures, associated morbidities, events that may increase the vulnerability of the eye, and artificial eye filters.

Keywords:
Electromagnetic radiation; Ultraviolet rays; Eye burns; Ultraviolet filters; Visual disorders

UV radiation

Abbrev.

Wavelength (nm)

Features

UVC

100-280

Intense bioactivity.

Completely absorbed by the atmosphere and does not exist naturally on Earth’s surface.

Emitted by electric welding(²2 World Health Organization (WHO), World Meteorologcal Organization, United Enviroment Programme IC on N-IRP. Global Solar UV Index: A practical guide. Geneva:WHO; 2002 [cited 2021 Jul 9]. 1-28 p. Available from: https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/42459
https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/4... ), germicidal lamps(³3 Takahashi J, Nakashima H, Fujii N, Okuno T. Comprehensive analysis of hazard of ultraviolet radiation emitted during arc welding of cast iron. J Occup Health. 2020;62(1):1-10.), and certain excimer lasers(⁴4 Kim SJ, Kim DK, Kang DH. Using UVC light-emitting diodes at wavelengths of 266 to 279 nanometers to inactivate foodborne pathogens and pasteurize sliced cheese. Appl Environ Microbiol. 2016;82(1):11-7.).

UVB

280-315

Strong bioactivity.

Inducer of Vitamin D3 in adipose tissue(⁵5 Fantes FE, Waring GO. Effect of excimer laser radiant exposure on uniformity of ablated corneal surface. Lasers Surg Med. 1989; 9(6):533-42.).

Responsible for tanning the skin(⁶6 Wacker M, Holick MF. A global perspective for health. Dermato-endocrinol. 2013;5(1):51-108.).

Generated by high temperatures(⁷7 Tadokoro T, Yamaguchi Y, Batzer J, Coelho SG, Zmudzka BZ, Miller SA, et al. Mechanisms of skin tanning in different racial/ethnic groups in response to ultraviolet radiation. J Invest Dermatol. 2005;124(6):1326-32.), lamps for tanning and treatment of psoriasis(⁸8 Oriowo OM, Chou BP, Cullen AP. Eye exposure to optical radiation in the glassblowing industry: An investigation in Southern Ontario. Can J Public Health. 2000;91(6):471-4.) and vitiligo(⁹9 Toledo-Pastrana T, García-Hernández MJ, Carrizosa-Esquivel AM, Camacho-Martínez FM. Evaluation of 25 years of phototherapy for treating psoriasis at a teaching hospital in southern Spain. An Bras Dermatol. 2015;90(4):473-8.).

Corresponds to 1/7 of ambient UV radiation.

UVA

315-400

Low bioactivity.

Insignificant atmospheric absorption.

Corresponds to 6/7 of ambient UV radiation.

UV	Wavelength (nm)	Transmittance (%)
UV	Wavelength (nm)	Cornea	Crystalline lens
B	<300	0	0
B	315	40	0
A	320	60	0
A	380	80	0
A	390	80	10
A	400	80	15

Morbidity	Site	UV
Welder’s keratoconjunctivitis(²³23 Podskochy A, Gan L, Fagerholm P. Apoptosis in UV-exposed rabbit corneas. Cornea. 2000;19(1):99-103.,²⁴24 Oliva MS, Taylor H. Ultraviolet radiation and the eye. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2005;45(1):1-17.)	Conjunctiva and cornea	B e C
Snow keratoconjunctivitis(²³23 Podskochy A, Gan L, Fagerholm P. Apoptosis in UV-exposed rabbit corneas. Cornea. 2000;19(1):99-103.,²⁴24 Oliva MS, Taylor H. Ultraviolet radiation and the eye. Int Ophthalmol Clin. 2005;45(1):1-17.)	Conjunctiva and Cornea	B
Squamous cell carcinoma(²⁵25 Gallagher RP, Hill GB, Bajdik CD, Coldman AJ, Fincham S, Mclean DI, et al. Sunlight exposure, pigmentation factors, and risk of nonmelanocytic skin cancer. Arch Dermatol. 2015;131(2):164-9.)	Eyelids	B
Squamous cell carcinoma(²⁶26 Sun EC, Fears TR, Goedert JJ. Epidemiology of squamous cell conjunctival cancer. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 1997; 6(2):73-7.)	Conjunctiva and cornea	B
Spheroidal degeneration(²⁷27 Johnson GJ. Aetiology of spheroidal degeneration of the cornea in Labrador. Br J Ophthalmol. 1981;65(4):270-83.,²⁸28 Taylor HR, West SK, Rosenthal FS, Munoz B, Newland HS, Emmett EA. Corneal changes associated with chronic ultraviolet radiation. Arch Ophthalmol. 1989;107(10):1481-4.)	Cornea	A e B
Pterygium(²⁸28 Taylor HR, West SK, Rosenthal FS, Munoz B, Newland HS, Emmett EA. Corneal changes associated with chronic ultraviolet radiation. Arch Ophthalmol. 1989;107(10):1481-4.)	Conjunctiva and cornea	A e B
Cortical cataract(²⁹29 McCarty CA, Nanjan MB, Taylor HR. Attributable risk estimates for cataract to prioritize medical and public health action. Investig Ophthalmol Vis Sci. 2000;41(12):3720-5.)	Lens	B

Event	Predisposing factor
Acute overexposure	Work with electric welding, snow activities, direct observation of the sun.
Chronic exposure	Lifesavers, firefighters, ski instructors, agricultural workers, fishers.
Use of photosensitizing agents	Psoralens, phenothiazines, tetracyclines, sulfonamides(³⁰30 Harber LC, Baer RL. Pathogenic mechanisms of drug-induced photosensitivity. J Invest Dermatol. 1972; 58(6):327-42.).
Genetic conditions	Albinism(³¹31 Rapp LM, Williams TP. The role of ocular pigmentation in protecting against retinal light damage. Vision Res. 1980;20(12):1127-31.), Retinitis pigmentosa(³²32 Heckenlively JR, Rodriguez JA, Daiger SP. Autosomal dominant sectoral retinitis pigmentosa: Two families with transversion mutation in codon 23 of rhodopsin. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991;109(1):84-91.).
Artificial conditions	Aphakia (Lens absence).

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[1] Corresponding author: Carlos Yuji Nunomura. E-mail: cy_nuno@yahoo.com.br