Ocular effects of UV-B exposure.
Although an association between UV-B exposure and ocular damage has been long suspected, this relationship is still not well quantified. Cataract is the most significant ocular damage associated with UV-B exposure. Initial studies of the association between UV-B exposure and cataract were hampered by a lack of precision in the assessment of cataract and a failure to separate cataract types. With a few exceptions, most studies have not assessed individual ocular UV-B exposure but have used ambient levels or isolated behaviours. Ecologic studies show there is more cataract in sunny areas, but whereas ambient UV-B fluxes may change by a factor of 3 or 4 over the globe, individual behaviour can change ocular exposure in a given location by 20-fold or more. The Chesapeake Bay Watermen studies assessed individual ocular UV-B exposure and have shown a consistent relationship between exposure to UV-B and the risk of both cortical and posterior subcapsular cataract. However, further work to refine these findings is sorely needed.
Taylor
H R
HR
Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005123:Eye / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007908:Lens, Crystalline / Q000528:radiation effects; D008396:Maryland / Q000453:epidemiology; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*