Your peepers need UV protection too   by Eveline Gan     Mention sunburn, and lobster-red shoulders and flushed cheeks come to mind. While most of us faithfully slather on sunscreen before heading out in the scorching heat, we tend to neglect another body part - our eyes.   Like our skin, the eyes are just as vulnerable to sun damage, according to eye experts TODAY spoke to.   Sunburn of the eyes, or photokeratitis in medical lingo, can occur if your peepers are exposed to large amounts of ultraviolet (UV) radiation over a short period of time.   So what happens if your eyes gets sunburnt?   Similar to a skin sunburn, the skin of the cornea (the clear front surface of the eyeball) can peel off when sunlight burns your eyes, said Dr Lee Sao Bing, medical director of Shinagawa LASIK Centre.   "It's very painful. Your vision blurs and you may experience tearing and a foreign object sensation in your eyes," said Dr Lee. This can happen if you've spent all day at the beach or hanging out on the ski slopes while holidaying. Besides the direct effects of the sun's UV rays, your eyes also bear the brunt of high reflection of UV radiation snow.   While photokeratitis doesn't cause lasting damage to the eyes, long-term exposure to harmful UV rays can lead to other more complicated eye problems.   Developing cataracts at an earlier age is one of them.   "Ageing is the main factor for cataract development," said Dr Jovina See, a senior consultant at Shinagawa LASIK Centre.   "However, it is possible to get it at a younger age, especially when you're constantly exposed to UV rays. This could be one reason why golfers tend to develop cataracts."   Dr Lee added that UV radiation can also trigger pterygium, an eye condition which results in benign tissue growth in the corner of the eye. According to Dr Lee, pterygium is more commonly seen in equatorial countries like Singapore due to the higher UV exposure in this part of the world.   Dr Lee's patient, Wong Chee Seng, is a prime example of why UV protection for the eyes is essential.   An avid sportsperson, Mr Wong was shocked when he learnt that he had developed cataracts in both eyes two years ago. Then, he was only 46 years old. The marathon runner, who plays golf and tennis, also suffers from pterygium.   "The doctor did tell me that my eye conditions were triggered by excessive UV rays. I put on sunscreen when I play golf, but I have never thought about protecting my eyes. In the past, I really disliked wearing sunglasses," said Mr Wong, who has since changed his mind.   Short of cooping yourself up indoors, a good old pair of sunglasses is your best bet for UV eye protection, said Ms Hong Ai Ping, an optometrist in private practice.       Protect your eyes   Here's what you should look out for when choosing a suitable pair of sunglasses:       - Skip the fashionable eyeshades that don't offer proper UV protection, advised Ms Hong.   She said: "Some sunglasses only have tinted lenses, and they are useless against UV rays. We highly recommend people to get a pair of sunglasses from authorised optical stores because most of them would have machine to test if the glasses are really coated with UV protection.       - Getting sunglasses with larger lenses for better coverage. Even better, get "fit-over sunglasses" that wrap around the sides.       - Photochromic lenses, which adjust to different light conditions, may be useful to those who need to wear glasses and find switching between their regular glasses and sunglasses troublesome.       - In addition to UV protection, you may also consider sunglasses that come with polarised lenses which reduces glare, said Ms Hong. She recommended such lenses for outdoor activities such as fishing.       - Don't forget that Junior needs eye protection too. Kids should wear sunglasses with adequate UV protection when they are playing outdoors, advised Ms Hong.           This article was featured in Today May 24, 2011. http://www.todayonline.com/Health/EDC110524-0000275/Sun-care-for-your-eyes