Quantification of the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) field in the human eye in vivo using novel instrumentation and the potential benefits of UVR blocking hydrogel contact lens
James E Walsha, Jan P G Bergmansonb, David Wallacec, Gerardo Saldanab, Hillary Dempseyc, Helen McEvoya, Louis M T Collumc
a School of Physics,
Dublin Institute of Technology, Ireland, b Texas Eye Research and Technology Center,
University of Houston College of Optometry, Houston, TX, USA, c The Research
Foundation, The Royal Victoria Eye and Ear Hospital, Dublin, Ireland
Correspondence to: Dr James E Walsh, School of Physics, Dublin Institute of Technology, Kevin Street, Dublin 8, Ireland james.walsh{at}dit.ie
Accepted for publication 7 February 2001
BACKGROUND/AIMS
Certain
degenerative eye conditions occur predominantly nasally, at the limbal
region, and are associated with solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR)
induced damage. The relative contribution to the in vivo ocular flux of
(a) the reflection of UVR incident on the skin of the nose onto the
nasal limbus, and (b) the focusing of UVR incident on the temporal side
of the cornea onto the nasal limbus were examined.
METHODSA novel
photodiode sensor array was used to measure the UVR field across the
eye. In addition, a novel spectrometer set-up was used to measure the
spectrum of radiation refracted across the cornea. The efficacy of UVR
blocking hydrogel contact lenses in filtering incident UVR was assessed
in vivo.
RESULTSQualitative
and quantitative data indicated an increase nasally of UVR. Photodiode
readings showed a net UVR increase from the temporal to the nasal side.
Transmission curves showed that most UVR incident on the limbal region
is either absorbed by, or transmitted through, the ocular tissues. This
radiation is filtered by UVR blocking soft contact lens.
CONCLUSIONSAn
increased UVR flux on the nasal side of the eye, due to reflection off
the nasal skin, was identified in vivo. Any UVR passing through the
cornea is either absorbed by the conjunctiva and/or transmitted through
it onto the sclera where it is absorbed. UVR blocking hydrogel contact
lenses can eliminate these sources of UVR.
© 2001 by British Journal of Ophthalmology
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