Ozone depletion: The ocular effects of UV-B exposure

Cataract is the most important eye disease associated with increased ocular exposure to UV-B. Biochemical and experimental evidence clearly links the development of cataract to UV-B exposure. Because of the difficulties in ascertaining individual ocular UV-B exposure over a lifetime, epidemiologic data have been much more limited. However, a number of epidemiologic studies have shown a consistent association between excess UV-B exposure and cortical cataracts, one of the major types of age-related cataract. These data provide the basis to recommend avoidance of unnecessary exposure of the eye to UV-B radiation, whether by avoiding outdoor activities in the middle of the day, or by protecting the eye by wearing a hat and/or UV-B absorbing eye glasses.