Study suggests UV-absorbing contact lenses may be good for eye health

January 28, 2010

A new study is suggesting that UV-blocking contact lenses may be more effective in preventing harmful sunrays than sunglasses and baseball caps.

According to findings published in Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science, harmful UV rays can eventually lead to the cataracts. By the year 2050, there will be between 167,000 and 830,000 more cases of the eye disease.

Scientists exposed rabbits to 16 hours of UB rays, splitting them into two groups: one with no protection and one with UV lenses. It was found that the rabbits wearing UV lenses were not affected by the exposure, whereas the group with no protection suffered corneal changes.

Researchers are hopeful that these findings will help eye doctors determine what kinds of absorption lenses would be beneficial to their patients. Because not all lenses are UV-protective, the results of the study may trigger more physicians to prescribe them.

"This research will help patients and doctors consider appropriate UV-blocking contact lenses for those who need vision correction, to fill in some of the UV blocking gaps left by more traditional means," said researcher Dr Heather Chandler. "The data generated from this study could support the use of UV-absorbing contact lenses and greatly impact the health of a large number of people."