Lisa M. Renzi Hammond
Institute of Gerontology | College of Public Health
University of Georgia
Finding the Balance Between Benefit and Risk
As our days get longer, it’s time to talk about light. After a winter of snow, ice and burst pipes, I crave warmth and light. But sunlight is a double-edged sword. So how do we balance the good and the bad of sun exposure?
Let’s start with the good. Have you ever sat in the sun on an early spring day and felt as if your batteries recharged? That sensation has a biological basis. Sunlight alters our biology, often in beneficial ways. For example, research shows that longer-wavelength red light from the sun can support wound healing, reduce inflammation, and positively influence the nervous system. Shorter-wavelength violet light helps convert cholesterol in our skin into Vitamin D, a nutrient essential for many body systems.
The takeaway is simple: some sun is good for you. But too much sun can be a serious problem, and one of the clearest examples of this risk lies in our eyes.
Unprotected eyes exposed to sunlight face an increased risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the Southeast. In AMD, sunlight energizes oxygen molecules in the eye, making them unstable. The retina is always active and requires a constant supply of oxygen to function. When unstable oxygen reaches the retina’s photoreceptors—the rods and cones that convert light into signals the brain can interpret—those cells become damaged and may die, leading to permanent vision loss.
Farmers are at a particularly high risk for AMD. Many Southeastern growers are older, have higher than average smoked tobacco use, spend long hours in sunlight, and are often exposed to pesticides, herbicides and fungicides that increase risk. Sun exposure also increases the likelihood of cataracts, another common eye condition that can only be treated surgically.
Finding the balance between enough and too much sun isn’t easy. During the growing season, farm workers often err on the side of overexposure to sun, yet sun protection is frequently overlooked. A recent study of more than 2,000 agricultural workers found that only about 25 percent seek shade when the UV index is high, and just 14 percent wear wide-brimmed hats that help protect the eyes. Nearly 40 percent of farmers do not consistently wear sunglasses. The most common reason for not using sun protection was simply forgetting.
We know too much sun is harmful, but when sunscreen, sunglasses and a hat slip our minds, we often go without protection altogether. Sun exposure is like a see saw – there is a middle ground where the benefits come without the problems. To find that middle ground as we move from a season of too little sunlight into too much, it’s worth remembering that small, consistent protective steps can make a meaningful difference.
Steps to Safe Sun Exposure
1. Timing is everything. Remember that it only takes about 20 minutes to get enough direct sun on your skin to benefit your body. Exposing even one small patch of skin affects the whole body.
2. Put sun protection everywhere – your truck, your house, your farm. That way, if you forget your sunglasses or your hat at home, you’ll find them in your truck.
3. Pay attention to the UV index. When the UV index is highest, work in the shadiest parts of your farm, or prioritize tasks that allow you to seek shade.
4. Now is a wonderful time to quit smoking. Smoking is a major risk factor for eye disease, cancer, and other health problems. Too much sun + smoking causes maximal damage.
5. Balance in all things. Sun exposure is like a see saw. Balance your exposures with other health behaviors, and good sun protection.
By Lisa M. Renzi Hammond
Institute of Gerontology | College of Public Health
University of Georgia