Ultraviolet Corneal Burns

Ultraviolet light exposure can cause superficial keratitis.

Welders, skiers and people who use sunbeds without eye protection are most commonly affected. The image shows someone using a sunbed without eye protection.

Symptoms occur several hours after exposure and include belpharospasm, photophobia, watering and pain.

Local anaesthetic, whilst providing good relief from pain, allows for examination with fluorescein staining.

The most common finding on examination is generalised conjunctival injection with multiple punctate lesions on the cornea.