Ocular exposure to UV rays from the sun has been proven to be directly responsible for a number of very common eye conditions that have been shown to be preventable with proper UV protection: until now, wearing sunglasses has been the only available option.
Short-Term Effects of Sun Exposure
Short-term ocular exposure to the sun is responsible for acute “sun-burns” to the eye’s delicate surface structures (the Cornea and the Conjunctiva (the clear, thin membrane that covers the Sclera, which is the white part of the eye). People who ski without eye protection, or kids who spend a whole day by the pool are great examples. The eyes become red, tearful, painful, and very sensitive to light (a condition called “Photoconjunctivitis or Photokeratitis”).
Long-Term Consequences of Sun Exposure
Long-term ocular exposure to the sun is responsible for irreversible damage to the eyes’ delicate surface structures: the Conjunctiva becomes thickened (Pinguecula), discolored (Melanosis), and develops these wing-shaped, vascular, “fleshy” growths that grow onto the Cornea (a condition called “Pterygium”). Globally, up to 10% of the world population suffers from Pterygium formation (up to 30% in certain areas that are on earth’s “pterygium belt:” between 30 degrees north and 30 degrees south of the equator).
Furthermore, UV-induced ocular surface disease have been found to be directly linked to be responsible for the development of chronic dry eyes, a condition that affects the lives of millions of people worldwide!
Serious Eye Conditions: Cataracts and Macular Degeneration
Conditions such as Cataracts and Macular Degeneration have also been found to be directly linked to chronic exposure to the Sun, and ocular protection from UV light is highly recommended.
Years of collaborative effort between our team of expert eye surgeons and world-renowned scientists has lead to the development of UVista: a Glycerin-based ophthalmic formulation that contains an actual well-known organic sunscreen agent: Phenylbenzimidazole Sulfonic Acid (PBSA).
PBSA is an FDA-approved sunscreen agent that has been used safely in up to 8% concentration in a variety of sunscreen products for decades. It provides for outstanding protection from extremely harmful, high-energy UVB and UVAII Rays.
Our team has discovered how to dissolve PBSA in an aqueous solution and formulate it so that it is non-blurring, non-irritating, and photo-stable (does not stop working after brief exposure to the sun).
Most importantly, we have been able to determine that this preparation stays on the eyes for hours without washing away with blinking. Ocular residence studies have shown our formulation to reside on the ocular surface for about two hours after the instillation of a single drop. Further, the PBSA molecule serves as an Osmolyte for the Conjunctival cells and resides on the ocular surface for hours, providing outstanding ocular protection from the Sun!
