As much as people love to be tan and have that nice bronze look, tanning beds are harmful. Not only do the intense ultraviolet (UV) rays cause skin damage they can also burn the cornea. This is not felt immediately, most people don’t notice the burn until 6-12 hours after exposure. Along with burning the cornea, these UV rays may lead to cataracts later in life or the development of macular degeneration.
A lot of patients think that if they wear the protective goggles that they will develop “raccoon eyes.” The eyelids neither tan nor provide enough protection for your eyes from the UV rays. This is why it is important to wear these protective goggles.
If you start to notice any eye pain after exposure to UV rays contact your ophthalmologist at Boston Eye Group immediately.