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. 2001 Sep;85(9):1080–1085. doi: 10.1136/bjo.85.9.1080

Quantification of the ultraviolet radiation (UVR) field in the human eye in vivo using novel instrumentation and the potential benefits of UVR blocking hydrogel contact lens

J Walsh 1, J Bergmanson 1, D Wallace 1, G Saldana 1, H Dempsey 1, H McEvoy 1, L Collum 1
PMCID: PMC1724131  PMID: 11520761

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS—Certain degenerative eye conditions occur predominantly nasally, at the limbal region, and are associated with solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) induced damage. The relative contribution to the in vivo ocular flux of (a) the reflection of UVR incident on the skin of the nose onto the nasal limbus, and (b) the focusing of UVR incident on the temporal side of the cornea onto the nasal limbus were examined.
METHODS—A novel photodiode sensor array was used to measure the UVR field across the eye. In addition, a novel spectrometer set-up was used to measure the spectrum of radiation refracted across the cornea. The efficacy of UVR blocking hydrogel contact lenses in filtering incident UVR was assessed in vivo.
RESULTS—Qualitative and quantitative data indicated an increase nasally of UVR. Photodiode readings showed a net UVR increase from the temporal to the nasal side. Transmission curves showed that most UVR incident on the limbal region is either absorbed by, or transmitted through, the ocular tissues. This radiation is filtered by UVR blocking soft contact lens.
CONCLUSIONS—An increased UVR flux on the nasal side of the eye, due to reflection off the nasal skin, was identified in vivo. Any UVR passing through the cornea is either absorbed by the conjunctiva and/or transmitted through it onto the sclera where it is absorbed. UVR blocking hydrogel contact lenses can eliminate these sources of UVR.



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Figure 1  .

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UVR photodiode sensor array mounted over left eye with sensor number one on the temporal side and sensor five on the nasal side.

Figure 2  .

Figure 2  

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Schematic diagram of the refractive sensor set-up. Light from a fibreoptic illuminates the cornea temporally and is refracted across to a sensing fibre optic.

Figure 3  .

Figure 3  

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The relative change in intensity for the five sensors across the dummy head eye and five test subjects.

Figure 4  .

Figure 4  

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(Left) Typical qualitative data from the refractive sensor set-up showing light refracted across the cornea from the temporal side and emerging from it nasally. (Right) Typical qualitative data from the refractive sensor set-up showing light refracted across the cornea from the temporal side and imaged onto the limbal, conjunctival, and scleral junction.

Figure 5  .

Figure 5  

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Typical transmission spectra of the cornea and conjunctiva measured, in vivo, with the refractive set-up.

Figure 6  .

Figure 6  

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The transmission spectra of two UVR blocking hydrogel contact lenses, the Acuvue 2 and the Precision UV, measured in vivo.

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Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

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