Relationship between practices of eye protection against solar ultraviolet radiation and cataract in a rural area

Abstract

Background Cataract is a public health concern worldwide that differentially affects rural residents of outlying islands where ultraviolet radiation (UVR) may have greater penetration because of less shading. Objectives To assess the relationships between attitudes and practices of eye protection and eye diseases for residents of an offshore island of Taiwan. Methods Questionnaire survey was administered to local residents (age > 50 years) regarding socio-demographic information, attitudes/practices of eye protection under sun exposure and eye diseases. Results A total of 816 participants (response rate 90.7%, 816/900) completed the questionnaires. Mean age was 63.7 (+ 10.8) years. Among these participants, 44.4%, 15.1% and 8.3% had cataract, dry eye and glaucoma, respectively. Although 86.3% and 88.2% of participants agreed that they should avoid outdoor activities and wear glasses/broad-brimmed hats in harsh daylight, 69.4% and 48.3% of participants never/rarely used glasses or hats/umbrellas in harsh daylight, respectively. Predictors of less practices of eye protection against solar UVR included residents who were male, with lower education level, with longer residence and lack of commercial health insurance. Multivariate logistic regression revealed that practices of eye protection under sun exposure were significantly associated with less cataract, but not glaucoma or dry eye. Participants who did not wear glasses, broad-brimmed hats/use umbrellas or both in harsh sunlight (almost) every time were respectively associated with a 57% (P = 0.028), 45% (P = 0.027) or 70% (P = 0.026) increase of cataract than those who did in harsh sunlight (almost) every time. Conclusions Practices of eye protection under sun exposure is associated with lower risk of cataract.

Cataract in Professionals Exposed to Solar Radiation: A Cross Sectional Study

“…18,19 Not only the UV light causes damage to the crystalline lens but it also damages retina for which UV protective intraocular lenses are implanted after cataract surgery. 20 The limitations of this study is the cross sectional design. Future longitudinal studies are warranted to clarify the direction of causality.…”

The Effect of Exposure to Ultraviolet Rays of the Sun on Cataract Occurrence in Residents in Coastal Areas

“…However, the use of glasses cannot definitively treat cataracts. It is recommended that cataract surgery be carried out immediately for total therapy so that vision can improve immediately (Chen et al, 2021).…”

Optical radiation hazard analysis of active lighting units in video surveillance systems

“…The damage caused by optical radiation to the human body is mainly concentrated in the eyes and skin, and generally includes six categories: photochemical ultraviolet hazard ES (200 nm ~ 400 nm), near ultraviolet hazard E UVA (315nm ~ 400nm), retinal blue light hazard L B (300 nm ~ 700 nm), retinal thermal hazard L R (380 nm ~ 1400 nm), cornea and lens infrared radiation hazard E IR (780 nm ~ 3000 nm) and retinal thermal hazard (weak visual stimulus) L IR (780 nm ~ 1400 nm). They may result in eye and skin diseases [1][2][3][4][5][6] , such as infrared cataract, photokeratitis, photoretinitis, ultraviolet erythema.…”