June 2010
Ultraviolet radiation
plays a role in the
development of
age-related macular
degeneration and
skin cancer. We can
take precautions to
avoid over exposure
to the sun's rays
and protect our
eyes and skin.
                         Protecting Our Eyes and Skin
                         from  Too Much Sun
                         Health  Effects of
                         Ultraviolet Radiation
                         Information for Older Adults and
                         Their Caregivers
        Ultraviolet (UV)
        radiation is released
        by the sun or artificial
        sources such as
tanning beds or sun lamps. This
fact sheet provides an overview
of the major health problems
linked to overexposure to UV
radiation.
Since the benefits of sunlight
cannot be separated from its
damaging effects, it is important
to understand the risks of
overexposure, and take simple
precautions to protect yourself.
UV rays cannot be seen or felt
but can cause skin and eye
damage any season of the year-
even on cool or cloudy days.

Harmful  Effects of UV
Radiation on Eyes
Exposure  to  UV rays can cause
severe damage to our eyes.  The
following are examples of eye
disorders caused by too much
exposure  to  UV rays:

Cataracts
Exposure  to  UV rays increases
the risk of developing cataracts, a
disorder in which the lens of the
eye loses transparency resulting
in impaired vision. Signs of
cataracts include:
•  Blurred or cloudy vision;
•  Colors that appear faded;
•  Glare that makes lights seem
   too bright;
•  Halos around lights;
•  Reduced  vision at night, and
•  Double vision1.
Exposure to  low levels of UV
radiation places older adults at a
greater risk of cataracts, a major
cause of blindness. Adequate
eye protection from sun  exposure
is an important way to lower
your risk of developing cataracts.

Skin Cancer around the
Eyelids
Basal cell carcinoma is the most
common type of skin cancer to
affect the eyelids. In most cases,
lesions occur on the lower lid,
but they can occur anywhere on
the eyelids, in the corners of the
eye, under the eyebrows, and on
adjacent areas of the face.

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 Age-Related Macular Degeneration
 (AMD)
 AMD is a disease that affects the macula,
 the part of the eye that lets you see details.
 Indicators of macular degeneration include
 blurred central vision, trouble recognizing faces,
 and a need for more light when reading2. Solar
I:::::::::::::::::::::::...   radiation plays a role in the
                         development
                          of AMD3.
                           AMD, which occurs
                           in two forms—wet
 ••I!::?:::::::!!:::::::::::::-:    and dry—is found
                        most often in people
              over age 55. Most cases in the
 U.S. are of the dry type, which develops gradu-
 ally and results in blurred central vision. Wet
 AMD occurs more rapidly and results in greater
 vision loss. Macular degeneration cannot be
 cured. However, early diagnosis and treatment
 help  lessen its impact, another reason to visit
 your  eye doctor regularly.

 Snow Blindness (Photokeratitis)
 This temporary less-severe disorder results from
 over  exposure to UV rays while at the beach
 or on the snow. Symptoms include tearing,
 pain, swollen eyelids,  a feeling of sand  in the
 eyes, hazy or decreased vision. It heals  spon-
 taneously, generally within a  few days.
 Protect Your Eyes
 UV-related damage to the eyes can be pre-
 vented. To protect your eyes, wear sun-
 glasses that block 99-100% of UV rays. Wrap-
 around sunglasses are best at protecting
 your eyes because they block harmful rays
 coming from the  side. Additionally, a wide-
 brimmed  hat offers some degree of eye pro-
 tection, blocking UV rays from entering the
 eyes from the sides or above the sunglasses.

 Harmful Effects of  UV
 Radiation on the Skin
 Skin cancer is the most common form
 of cancer in the U.S.4 More people were
diagnosed with skin cancer in 2008 than
with breast, prostate, lung, and colon cancer
combined. About one-in-five Americans will
develop skin cancer during their lifetime.
Common skin cancers5 often can be cured
relatively easily. Melanoma, a type of skin
cancer, is more dangerous and difficult to treat.
However, it is almost always curable if caught
early and before it spreads to other parts of the
body6. Early detection of melanoma can save
your life.
UV radiation promotes the body's production
of vitamin D, which is essential for proper use
of calcium to maintain bones. As we age, our
skin is less able to synthesize vitamin D and our
kidneys are less able to convert vitamin D to its
active hormone form.
Premature Aging
Over time, exposure to the sun's rays causes
skin to thicken, wrinkle, form dark spots and
become leathery. Proper protection from the sun
minimizes these effects. Up to 90% of visible
changes to the skin commonly thought to be
caused by aging are actually caused by sun
exposure.

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Signs  of Skin Cancer
Check your entire body (from the top of your
head and scalp the soles of your feet) once
a month using full-length and hand mirrors.
Learn what is normal for your body so you will
notice any changes. The American Academy of
Dermatology has a body mole map that makes
it easy for you to detect and notice  changes in
moles that could be significant.
Remember the ABCDEs of melanoma detection
by examining the moles on your body. Contact
your health care provider if you find moles with
any of these characteristics. Or if a mole changes,
itches, bleeds, or appears different from others.

• Asymmetry—one half of the mole doesn't look
   like the other half.
• Border-the border is irregular, scalloped, or
   poorly defined.
• Color—the color of the mole  varies.
• Diameter—the mole is bigger than a pencil
   eraser.
• Evolving—a mole or skin lesion that looks
   different from the others or is changing in size
   shape or color.

Who Is At risk?
The following are some  major factors that deter-
mine the risk of suffering damage to the eyes or
skin from exposure to UV radiation:
• Everyone, regardless  of their  coloring, is at risk
   of eye damage from  UV radiation.
• People with fair skin  that burns or freckles
   easily, with blue or green eyes and blond or
   red hair have greater risk of developing skin
   cancer. In people whose skin is naturally dark,
   when melanomas develop they  occur usually
   on the palms, soles of feet or under finger-
   nails7.
• People with a family history of skin cancer or
   who  have experienced severe sunburn in the
   past  and people who have large numbers of
   moles (over 50) are more likely  to have skin
   cancer. Those who are exposed to sunlight at
   work must also be wary of skin cancer.
• Some medications such as certain antibiot-
   ics, antihistamines and  herbal preparations
   increase sensitivity of the skin and the eyes to
   UV radiation. Check with your health care pro-
   vider to see if medications you take increase
   sensitivity to sunlight.

Prevention
• Do not burn—overexposure to the sun is the
   most preventable risk factor for skin cancer
• Seek shade and limit your time outdoors,
   especially between 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM
   when UV radiation is most intense.
• Cover as much skin as possible with a wide
   brim hat and tightly woven clothing.
• Use sunscreen with an  SPF of at least 15 that
   blocks rays on all  exposed skin.
• Check the UV Index, a daily forecast of the
   amount of UV radiation to reach the Earth's
   surface.
• Stay away from tanning booths and sun
   lamps.
    I   Where Can I  Go to
    •   Learn More?
i
i

        Aging Adults and
        Environmental Health Issues
        IEPA's Aging Initiative is working to    _
        protect the health of older adults
        from environmental hazards through
        risk management and prevention
        strategies, education, and research.
        For more information about EPA's
        Aging Initiative, visit www.epa.gov/
    |   aging                             |
        Printed copies of this fact sheet can
        be ordered at:
        www.epa.gov/aging/resources/
    •   factsheets/order.htm

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Additional Resources

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Community-Based UV Risk Education: The
SunWise Program Handbook
www.epa.gov/nrmrl/
pubs/625r02008/625r02008.htm
www.epa.gov/sunwise

Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention
Protect Yourself from the Sun
www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic info/howto.
htm

National  Institutes of Health
The National Cancer Institute
What You Need to Know about Skin Cancer
www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/skin
The National Eye Institute
Cataract
www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract
facts.asp
Macular Degeneration
www.nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen/
armd facts.asp

American Academy of Dermatology
Body Mole  Map
www.melanomamonday.org/
documents/08  96%20Melanoma%20
Monday°/o20Mole°/o20Map.pdf

American Cancer Society
www.cancer.org
or 1-800-ACS-2345 (1-800-227-2345)

Test your Sun Safety IQ
www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/
PED_7_lx_Take_the_Sun_Safety_Quiz.
asp?sitearea=&level
American Optometric Association
Sunglasses shopping guide:
www.aoa.org/documents/
SunglassShoppingGuide0805.pdf

Endnotes
1 National Institutes of Health, National Eye
  Institute.
  Cataract: www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/
  cataract facts.asp
2 U. S. Environmental  Protection Agency.
  Community-Based UV Risk Education: The
  Sunwise Program Handbook, pp. 36, 37
3 American Optometric Association. Statement
  on Ocular Ultraviolet Radiation Hazards
  in Sunlight. www.aoa.org/Documents/
  OcularUltraviolet.pdf
4 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
  Skin Cancer.
  www.cdc.gov/cancer/skin/basic info
5 Ibid.
6 American Cancer Society. Skin Cancer Facts.
  www.cancer.org/docroot/PED/content/
  ped_7_l_What_You_Need_To_Know_About_
  Skin Cancer.asp?sitearea=&level
7 National Institutes of Health, National Cancer
  Institute, "What You  Need to Know About
  Melanoma: Melanoma: Who's at Risk
  www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/wyntk/
  melanoma/page?
Publication Number EPA 100-F-l0-010

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