What Is Eye Sunburn (Photokeratitis)?
An acute, painful inflammatory condition of the cornea and conjunctiva caused by overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, similar to a sunburn on the skin.
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Common Sources
Typically caused by intense reflection of sunlight off snow (snow blindness), water, or sand, and from artificial sources like welding arcs (flash burn) or sunlamps.
Symptoms
Symptoms usually appear several hours after exposure and include severe eye pain, foreign body sensation, light sensitivity (photophobia), tearing, and blurry vision.
Treatment and Prognosis
Treatment involves pain relief, lubricating drops, and allowing the corneal epithelium to heal, which usually occurs naturally within 24-48 hours. It is usually temporary.
Can I get photokeratitis from a tanning bed?
Yes. Tanning beds emit high levels of UV radiation and can easily cause photokeratitis if eye protection is not worn.
Is it contagious?
No. Photokeratitis is a physical injury (burn) caused by light, not an infection, so it is not contagious.
Is it always painful?
Yes. The cornea is densely packed with nerve endings, so the inflammation is typically described as severely painful or feeling like sand is in the eyes.