YELLOWISH BUMPS AND SORENESS

WHAT IT MAY MEAN: Sun damage

Pinguecula are yellowish patches and bumps, typically on the inner side of the eye near the nose, caused by changes in the conjunctiva tissue, which can be linked to sun damage. “A lot of people mistakenly think that UV rays are not as harmful to the eyes as they are to the skin, but that’s not the case,” Edmonds says. “Sun damage can increase the risk of serious, even sight-threatening, conditions.”

If you have very sore eyes after sun exposure it could be caused by inflammation of the cornea, called photokeratitis, or inflamed membranes on the eyeball, called photoconjunctivitis, both signs of acute UV damage. The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) says that chronic exposure to UVA and UVB is a risk factor for the development of cataracts, signified by cloudy patches developing on the lens of the eye, and macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss.

WHAT TO DO: RNIB recommends wearing sunglasses with a CE mark or a British Standard number BS EN ISO 12312-1 on bright days.