Hello,
Welcome to my blog, i hope you are staying safe and adhering to all protocols and measures to combat the corona virus. Recent reports from WHO suggest that the virus may be bouncing back and that the pandemic is far from over. Today i want us to take a look at the effect of Infrared Radiation on the eye.
Image by Wikilimages of Pixabay
Introduction
Most of us are very much aware of the of the fact or the idea that Ultra Violet Radiations are detrimental to our eyes and even our general health to some extent when exposed for too long although we need sunlight for the production of vitamin D however very few are aware of the detrimental effects of infrared radiation on the eye. Just like Ultraviolet Radiation Infrared also ranges from A to C with the wavelength of 780 to 10000nm. Infrared energy is unlike ultraviolet energy however exposure to can have some impact on your eye health hence there is the need for us to protect ourselves accordingly.
Sources Infrared
We get exposed to infrared radiation via sources such as the sun, electric radiant heaters, laser sources, lamps, hots objects, furnacne, etc. It is believe even object such as ice cubes emit radiation. Some articles also points to the fact that a source of infrared radiation is humans.
Damage by IR Radiation
Infrared radiation damage tends to manifest at the cellular level and the organs mostly known to be susceptible are the cornea, the anterior chamber, the lens and the retina. Due to the location of the lens and the energy of the infrared radiation, damage to the lens is attributed to accumulation over a long period of time. The attributed effect of infrared radiation on the lens is cataract, this is also known to be well accelerated by ultraviolet radiation as discussed in my previous article however whiles UV works fast IR works slowly but they all arrive at the same point. IR is also attributed to age-related macula degeneration in the retina.
The heat of IR causes proteins coagulation in cornea and structures in the anterior chamber such as the iris which is responsible for regulating the pupil size and the amount of light that get into the eye. The Cornea also protect the lens in this case by absorbing lots of the radiations hence limiting the amount available to the lens. On the retina the photoreceptor cells are at greatest risk. Unlike in the case of short blue waveleghts at the macular which is kept from causing damage by the xanthophylls there is nothing similar to keep IR back. Damages to the protein in these structure may also exhibit as flares seen in the anterior chamber as they tend to float around in the aqueous and vitreous humour.
How to protect yourself
Whiles Infrared radiation effect may not be as quick as that of ultra-violet radiation it is important to know that accumulation over time may pose more health risk to our ocular health than we may anticipate hence there is the need for us to be protected. Individual who work in industries and places with lots of infrared radiation exposure such as refineries and mining are to ensure that the right safety tools and gadgets are worn at all times. The use of anti-reflective coating on safety googles and our prescription glasses does protect us a lot from Infrared radiation. So the next time you visit your optometrist and discusses your eye wear options do well opt for UV and AR coatings to protect you from both radiations.
Conclusion
Your sight is your light to the world. We can never be too careful in protecting ourselves. So lets strive to do more to save ourselves the trouble of seeking medication after having cause the damage. Remember that prevention is always better than cure. Always remember to report all ocular emergencies and health issues to your optometrists and do not forget to seek information from the right source. Thanks for reading and have a nice weekend.
References
https://www.horizonsoptical.com/infrared-radiation/
https://ehs.lbl.gov/resource/documents/radiation-protection/non-ionizing-radiation/light-and-infrared-radiation/
https://www.univie.ac.at/geographie/fachdidaktik/FD/site/external_htmls/imagers.gsfc.nasa.gov/ems/infrared.html#:~:text=Since%20the%20primary%20source%20of,an%20ice%20cube%2C%20emit%20infrared.