Department of Ophthalmology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia.
Eye Contact Lens. 2011 Jul;37(4):214-24. doi: 10.1097/ICL.0b013e318223394e.
The eye is on the one hand dependent on visible light energy and on the other hand can be damaged by these and the contiguous ultraviolet (UV) and infrared wavelengths. Diseases of the eye in which sunlight has been implicated have been termed the ophthalmohelioses, and these conditions pose a significant problem to the eye health of many communities. The ophthalmohelioses have a tremendous impact on patients' quality of life and have significant implications on the cost of health care. Although cataract is not entirely caused by insolation, it now seems certain that sunlight plays a contributory role-cataract extraction is one of the, if not the most, commonly performed surgical procedures in many societies. Pterygium, typically afflicting a younger population, adds a tremendous burden, both human and financial, in many countries. We review evidence that peripheral light focusing by the anterior eye to the sites of usual locations of pterygium and cataract plays a role in the pathogenesis of these conditions. Recognition of the light pathways involved with foci at stem cell niches has directed our investigations into inflammatory and matrix metalloproteinase-related pathophysiologic mechanisms. An understanding of the intracellular mechanisms involved has provided some insight into how medical treatments have been developed for the effective management of ocular surface squamous neoplasia. The concept of peripheral light focusing has also provided direction in the prevention of these diseases. This has resulted in improved sunglass design and the further development of UV-blocking contact lenses. With the development of ocular UV fluorescence photographic techniques, we have been able to demonstrate preclinical ocular surface evidence of solar damage. Evidence that diet may play a role in the development of certain conditions is reviewed. The conundrum of the public health message about solar exposure is also reviewed, and in this context, the potential role of vitamin D deficiency is summarized. The eye may play a role in the development of individualized assessment techniques of solar damage, perhaps allowing us to provide better advice to both individuals and populations.
眼睛一方面依赖可见光能量，另一方面又可能受到这些光以及相邻的紫外线 (UV) 和红外线的损害。与阳光有关的眼部疾病被称为光眼病，这些疾病对许多社区的眼部健康构成了重大问题。光眼病对患者的生活质量有巨大影响，并对医疗保健成本有重大影响。虽然白内障并非完全由阳光照射引起，但现在看来，阳光确实起着促成作用——白内障摘除术是许多社会中最常见的手术之一。翼状胬肉通常影响较年轻的人群，在许多国家都给人们带来了巨大的人力和财力负担。我们回顾了证据，表明前眼部对翼状胬肉和白内障通常发生部位的周边光聚焦在这些疾病的发病机制中起作用。认识到与干细胞巢焦点相关的光通路指导了我们对炎症和基质金属蛋白酶相关病理生理机制的研究。对涉及细胞内机制的理解为如何开发用于有效管理眼表面鳞状肿瘤的医疗方法提供了一些见解。周边光聚焦的概念也为这些疾病的预防提供了方向。这导致了太阳镜设计的改进和紫外线阻断隐形眼镜的进一步发展。随着眼部紫外线荧光摄影技术的发展，我们已经能够在临床前眼部表面证据表明存在太阳损伤。我们回顾了饮食可能在某些疾病发展中起作用的证据。还回顾了有关阳光暴露的公共卫生信息的难题，并在这方面总结了维生素 D 缺乏的潜在作用。眼睛可能在评估太阳损伤的个体化评估技术方面发挥作用，也许使我们能够为个人和人群提供更好的建议。
