Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effects of near ultraviolet radiation on the lens and retina

  • Published:
Documenta Ophthalmologica Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This communication represents a consideration of non-visual interactions between environmental light and the eye. It covers the following topics: light in the environment; light entering the eye and transmission to the retina; observed light damage; mechanisms of light damage; and considerations of the absorptive properties of artificial lenses. The intention of this paper is to summarize the available information and some of the current thinking about the non-visual interactions of the eye with short wave-length radiation. Many more experiments must be done for us to appreciate the full significance of this information for the benefit of man.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wurtman RJ (1975) The effects of light on the human body. Sci Amer 233:68–77

    Google Scholar 

  2. Zuclich JA and Connolly JS (1976) Ocular damage induced by near-ultraviolet laser radiation. Invest Ophthal 15:760–764

    Google Scholar 

  3. Zigman S (1977) Near-UV light and cataracts. Photochem Photobiol 26:437–441

    Google Scholar 

  4. Zigman S and Bagley SJ (1971) Near-UV light effects on dogfish retinal rods. Exp Eye Res 12:55–59

    Google Scholar 

  5. Zigman S and Vaughan T (1977) Effects of near-UV light on the lenses and retinas of mice. Invest Ophthal 13:462–465

    Google Scholar 

  6. Ham WT, Mueller HA, Ruffolo JJ, Guerry D and Guerry RK (1982) Action spectrum for retinal injury from near-UV radiation in aphakic monkey. Amer J Ophthal 93:299–306

    Google Scholar 

  7. Zigman S, Datiles M and Torczynski E (1979) Sunlight and human cataracts. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 18:462–467

    Google Scholar 

  8. Zigman S (1981) Photochemical mechanisms in cataract formation. In: Mechanisms of Cataract Formation in the Human Lens, ed. by G Duncan. London, Academic Press, pp 117–149

    Google Scholar 

  9. Grover D and Zigman S (1972) Coloration of human lenses by near-UV photooxidized tryptophan. Exp Eye Res 13:70–76

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lerman S (1980) Radiant Energy and The Eye. New York, McGraw Hill.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Van Heyningen R (1975) What happens to the human lens in cataract. Sci Amer 233:70–81

    Google Scholar 

  12. Hiller R, Giacometti L and Yuen K (1977) Sunlight and cataract. An epidemiological investigation. Amer J Epidemiol 105:450–459

    Google Scholar 

  13. Taylor H (1980) The environment and the lens. Brit J Ophthal 64:303–324

    Google Scholar 

  14. Hollows F and Moran D (1981) Cataract - the ultraviolet risk factor. Lancet, Dec 5, pp 1249–1251

  15. Pitts DG, Cullen AP and Hacker P (1977) Effects of ultraviolet radiation from 295–365 nm. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 16:932–946

    Google Scholar 

  16. Girgus JS, Coren S and Porac C (1977) Independence of in vivo human lens pigmentation from UV-light exposure. Vision Res 17:749–750

    Google Scholar 

  17. Trevithick JR, Creighton MO and Ross WM (1980) Vitamin E prevents cataractogenesis in diabetic rats. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci (Suppl) 19:207–208

    Google Scholar 

  18. Ham WT Jr, Mueller HA, Ruffolo JJ, Guerry D III (1981) Retinal sensitivity of rhesus monkey to near-UV radiation. Abstracts of 9th Annual Meeting Amer Soc for Photobiol, Williamsburg, VA, June 1981, p 180

  19. Goosey S, Zigler SJ and Kinoshita J (1980) Crosslinking of lens crystallins in a photodynamic system:Mediated by singlet oxygen. Science 208:1278–1279

    Google Scholar 

  20. Spector A and Garner WH (1982) Hydrogen peroxide and human cataract. Exp Eye Res 33:673–681

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kramer SG (1980) Epinephrine distribution after topical administration to phakic and aphakic eyes. Trans Amer Ophthal Soc 78:947–982

    Google Scholar 

  22. Zigman S, Yulo T and Griess G (1976) Inactivation of catatase by near-ultraviolet light and tryptophan photoproducts. Molec Cell Biochem 11:149–154

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kalustian A, Sun M and Zigman S (1978) N-UV light sensitized inactivation of glutathione reductase. Amer Soc Photobiol, June 1978, abstracts, pp 112–113

  24. Kinoshita J (1974) Mechanisms of cataract formation. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci 18:713–724

    Google Scholar 

  25. Rudy MA, Girsch SJ, Zigman S and Schenk E (1982) Subthreshold UV radiation effects of aphakic guinea pig retina. Current Eye Research (in press)

  26. Noell WK, Walker VS, Karg BS and Berman S (1966) Retinal damage by light in rats. Invest Ophthal 5:450–454

    Google Scholar 

  27. Drews RC (1979) Intraocular lens implants. Proc 6th Annual Science Writers' Seminar in Ophthalmology, Los Angeles, Calif, pp 41–42

  28. Collier R, Girsch SJ, Chapman J, Waldron W and Zigman S (1982) Near-UV induced ERG defects in aphakic squirrel retinae. Invest Ophthal Vis Sci (Suppl) 22:281

    Google Scholar 

  29. Mainster M (1978) Spectral transmittance of intraocular lenses and retinal damage from intense light sources. Amer J Ophthal 85:167–170

    Google Scholar 

  30. Zigman S (1982) Tinting of intraocular lens implants. Arch Ophthal 100:998

    Google Scholar 

  31. Tennant J, Smirmaul H, Snyder WB and Wetsel G (1980) Solar irradiation and the eye. Ophthal Times (Aug 1980)

  32. Gills W (1980) Personal communication

  33. Anderson WJ and Gebel RKH (1977) Ultraviolet windows in commercial sunglasses. Applied Optics 16:515–517

    Google Scholar 

  34. Segre G, Reccia R, Pignalosa B and Pappalando G (1981) The efficiency of ordinary sunglasses as protection from UV radiation. Ophthal Res 13:180–187

    Google Scholar 

  35. Lerman S (1980) Human ultraviolet light cataracts. Ophthal Res 12:303–314

    Google Scholar 

  36. Rudy MA, Zigman S and Schenk E (1981) Lack of photosensitization of ocular tissues by allopurinol. Arch Ophthal 99:2030–2033

    Google Scholar 

  37. Lerman S, Megaw J and Willis I (1980) Potential ocular complications of PUVA therapy and their prevention. J Invest Derm 74:197–199

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Ophthalmology and Biochemistry, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentristry, 601 Elmwood Avenue, 14642, Rochester, NY, USA

    S. Zigman

Authors
  1. S. Zigman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

Supported by the National Eye Institute (PHS-grant #EY 00459) and Research to Prevent Blindness, Inc. (Departmental Developmental Grant)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zigman, S. Effects of near ultraviolet radiation on the lens and retina. Doc Ophthalmol 55, 375–391 (1983). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00161292

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00161292

Keywords

Search

Navigation