Did You Know?

Have you ever stopped to think about all the fascinating things your eyes do every day? Or have you ever had an eye question pop into your head, such as whether your eyes can get sunburned? 

Many things we notice about our eyes can be completely normal. However, some symptoms may be early signs of an eye disease or other vision problem.

Learning more about how your eyes work can help you understand what's likely normal and what may be a sign you should see your eye doctor. 

Continue reading for answers to some commonly asked, and possibly surprising, questions about your eyes. 
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Can your eyes get sunburned?

Your eyes can get sunburned. The condition is called photokeratitis. It can develop from exposure to UV rays from the sun as well as from tanning beds. Certain factors may increase the risk, such as being on snow or water, where the intensity of UV rays increases. The length of time you spend in the sun without sunglasses can increase your risk.

The symptoms may include eye pain, redness, blurry vision, and light sensitivity. Although a sunburned eye may sound serious, it is usually temporary. Additionally, wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UVB and UVA rays can help prevent it.
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Why do headlights from cars bother some people more than others? 

Various factors can make the headlights from oncoming cars appear brighter. The main culprit is aging. However, dry eye, cataracts, and certain eye diseases can also make headlights more bothersome. Outdated lens prescriptions may also play a role in increasing glare. If nighttime driving is becoming more difficult, the best way to determine the cause is through a comprehensive eye exam. 

Can stress lead to blurry vision? 

Stress may temporarily affect your vision slightly, leading to eye strain, blurred vision, and twitching eyelids. While stress doesn't typically damage your vision, if you experience ongoing blurry vision, see an eye doctor. 

Can your eyes water more if you have dry eye syndrome? 

It may be surprising, but watery eyes can be a common symptom of dry eye syndrome. What happens is the surface of your eye can become dry. Your brain interprets this problem and signals your tear glands to produce more reflex tears. 

But reflex tears differ from normal tears. Normal tears have the right balance of mucus and oils to keep your eyes lubricated, while reflex tears mostly contain water. Although they can flush away irritants, they do not contain enough mucus or oil to lubricate the eye well. 
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Can your eye color change over time?

The answer is yes, but it completely depends on your age and the cause. For example, infants are often born with light eyes such as gray or blue, and their eyes may darken during their first few years of life. In other cases, certain types of eye diseases and medications can occasionally change the color of the iris. For the most part, in adults, eye color remains the same over a lifetime. 

Your eyes are constantly responding to daily activities, digital devices, and your environment. For instance, it's normal to occasionally have watery eyes on a windy day or blurry eyes after being on a computer all day. Many of these changes in your eyes are usually not a cause for concern. 

However, some changes in your eyes and vision shouldn't be ignored. It's essential to schedule an eye exam if you experience sudden blurry vision, a large increase in floaters, eye pain, or excessive tearing that persists. 

Understanding what's normal for your eyes and recognizing when something may be a problem is one of the best ways to protect your long-term vision. 

We hope the above information is helpful. We are happy to answer any additional vision-related questions you may have. If you would like to schedule an appointment with one of our eye doctors, please call our office at 508-746-8600.