Exposure to strong daytime sunlight Extended exposure to sunlight, even indirectly Unprotected exposure to sunlight reflecting off of snow or water Exposure to sun lamps (such as in tanning beds) Using extra bright lights (such as photographer’s lights) Exposure to welding torch light without eye protection Note: You may burn more easily (including on your eyes) if you take oral contraceptives, psoriasis medications, antibiotics, antihistamines, medications that contain high levels of vitamin A, antipsychotics, antidepressants, ibuprofen, or cholesterol-lowering drugs. [2] X Research source
Mild to severe eye pain Bloodshot eyes Sensitivity to light Watery eyes Blurred vision Swollen eyelids Eyelid twitching Headache Contracted (smaller) pupils A gritty sensation on your eyes Feeling fullness or pressure in the eyes Temporary blindness (in severe cases that require immediate medical attention)
Don’t wear your contacts again until your eye sunburn has fully healed.
If you’re stuck outside, find a shady spot and put on a pair of sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to block out as much sunlight as possible.
Re-wet and re-apply the cloth as often as necessary to continue soothing your eyes.
Check the product packaging for specific instructions. Most products suggest doing 1 to 3 drops per eye 2-3 times per day. Don’t let the tip of the eye drop bottle touch your eye or eyelid. This can cause bacteria to get into the eye drops, which may lead to an eye infection.
If your eyes still hurt after taking an over-the-counter medication or if the pain increases, contact your doctor. You may need a stronger prescription medication for the pain. Note that ibuprofen can increase photosensitivity, so you may want to opt for acetaminophen or naproxen if you need to continue spending time outdoors.
You can also purchase computer glasses to help filter out the glare from your screens, although not all eye experts agree that they are especially effective at preventing eye strain.
Dilating eye drops. Your doctor will probably apply these as part of their examination of your eyes, and the drops may reduce your eye irritation while the drops are effective (which can range from a couple of hours to a day or more). Padded eye dressing or eye patch. If one eye is more burned (and painful) than the other, covering it may help it to heal more quickly. Antibiotic eye drops or ointment. If prescribed, this medication is intended to prevent infection to the eye or eyelid. Follow your doctor’s dosage and application instructions—such as applying 1 drop every 4 hours. Waiting it out. Especially if your eye sunburn is mild, your doctor may advise you to simply keep up with simple at-home remedies (like applying cold compresses and avoiding bright light). Most cases of photokeratitis resolve themselves within around 12 hours to 3 days.
Choose sunglasses or goggles that provide wrap-around protection for your eyes. Polarized sunglasses can help reduce glare from reflective surfaces, like water or pavement. However, polarization alone won’t protect your eyes from UV light. Even if it’s cloudy, you can still get a sunburn—it’ll just take longer to happen. So put on protective eyewear if you’ll be spending more than a short time outdoors on a cloudy day.
You may have heard people advise staying out of the sun between 10 am and 2 pm, but it’s safer to extend this period to 4 pm, especially in midsummer.
Make sure that the eyewear blocks at least 99% of UVA and UVB rays.
Use an SPF-15 or greater, broad spectrum sunscreen that blocks both UVA and UVB light. Make sure to apply sunscreen to the rest of your face and other exposed skin as well. Mineral-based sunscreens (with zinc or titanium dioxide) may cause less of a stinging sensation than chemical-based ones if you do happen to get some in your eye. Should you get some sunscreen in your eye, flush it with clean water until the stinging sensation subsides. And don’t worry—the sunscreen won’t cause lasting damage. If you already have sunburned eyelids, treating them isn’t all that different from treating a sunburn on your face or anywhere else on your skin. Apply cool water, a cool compress, or pure aloe vera, drink plenty of water, and use OTC pain relievers as needed.
