Tanning Beds and eye injuries: What You Need to Know
A tanning bed or sunbed is a device structured with lamps in which you will find one or resting in order to get a tan. Tanning beds emit 2 types of ultraviolet radiation, UVA and UVB rays. In general, UVA tanning beds emit mostly. However, in recent years, tanning beds are manufactured so that the same effect in the solar spectrum, which in turn produces higher levels of UVB. From the industrial viewpoint, it accelerates the tanning process.
The cornea and lens of the eye absorb UV radiation. Exposure to sunlight activates the defense mechanism of the eye, such as constriction of the pupil and the squinting reflex, which minimizes the penetration of sunlight in the eye. When a person is exposed to UV radiation under controlled conditions, such as a tanning bed, the body reacts in a way that the defense mechanism of the eye is minimal, resulting in photokeratitis and photoconjunctivitis. Photokeratitis is inflammation of the cornea and photoconjunctivitis is inflammation of the conjunctiva. During exposure to UVB radiation can cause arc eye and snow blindness, which are extreme forms of photokeratitis. Research shows that UV radiation levels in the eye is 100 times greater in a tanning bed that was in the sun. Therefore greater exposure to UVB increases the risk of developing certain types of cataracts. This leads to the disintegration of the eye lens proteins, which tangle and accumulate pigments and eventually can cause blindness. The risk of this happening can be reduced to 40% if we halved the ocular exposure to UVB radiation. During exposure can also cause other eye problems like macular degeneration and pterygium. Pterygium is tissue growth in the white of the eye and macular degeneration is damage to the retina.
Ultraviolet radiation is a well established human carcinogen, so the probability of malignant melanoma of the eye can not be excluded. The use of glasses or keep your eyes closed, not be sufficient to prevent this from happening.