Are You Out In The Sun For Too Long? It Can Lead To This Problem

Sunlight is a good source of vitamin D, but getting exposed to the sun for too long can increase the risk of developing eye freckles or dark spots on the iris, according to a recent study.

This study published in the journal Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science, stated that though not malignant, eye freckles could be a sign of other serious eye problems like a cataract or macular degeneration.

During the study, over 600 swimmers at public pools in Styria, Austria had their eyes examined for freckles and filled out a questionnaire regarding their lifetime sun exposure and sun-protection habits.

Meanwhile, researchers from Medical University of Graz in Austria also found out that the development of eye freckles correlated with increasing age, lifetime number of sunburns and a history of severe sunburns resulting in blisters.

Yet another startling discovery made during the study was that the people with dark coloured eyes were less likely to have eye freckles, as well as those who maintained better sun protection habits like using sunscreen or covering up.

In addition the freckles were most commonly found in the lower outer quadrant (away from the nose) of each eye.