Be careful of UV sterilizers

A lot of these items are readily available online including masks and face shields, alcohol and all-around cleansers sold in bulk, and even less common items like UV sterilizers.

Precautions should be taken especially when ordering chemicals and UV implements online. Make sure you’re buying from a legitimate, trusted source. You may get fake items or worse, badly mixed chemicals that can harm you.

For UV sterilizers, the bulbs you get might not be UV at all, but just regular fluorescent lights, which won’t work against the bugs. You’ll know it’s really UV if the room smells burnt after using it. UV radiation comes in three wavelengths: UVA, UVB and UVC. We are exposed to UVA and UVB from the sun while UVC, the most dangerous of the three, is present in welding torches, mercury lamps and, you guessed it, UV sterilizing bulbs. 

UVC radiation can cause skin and eye problems. Even short term exposure can cause redness, burns and even ulceration of the skin. The effect on the eyes can be worse. Unprotected, UV light can cause “sun burn” on the outermost layer of the eye’s cornea— the sloughed off layer exposes the corneal nerves causing severe eye pain, foreign body sensation and intolerance to light (photophobia). If this occurs, contact your eye doctor immediately.

What should we do to prevent this? As with all electronics, we should read all instructions before operating. According to the Philippine Cornea Society, make sure to stay out of the room when the light is switched on. If you can’t help being in the room, avoid exposing your eyes and skin. Some UV products are remote controlled, minimizing the risk of exposure further.

If you are exposed and begin experiencing any symptoms, stay calm. For skin irritation or minor burns, you can apply cold compress and antibiotic ointment. For the eye, do not rub, scratch or manipulate it. Close your eyes but don’t squeeze. If the pain is severe, you may take an oral pain reliever. Again, make sure to call your ophthalmologist. 

If you have more eye questions, consult your friendly ophthalmologist online today. You can do a quick search on Facebook for Dr Jocelyn Therese Remo, Dr Catherine Valconcha and Dr Margarita Bondoc-Hermosa.

Margarita Bondoc-Hermosa is an ophthalmologist practising in Metro Manila and the Visayas. She can be reached on facebook.com/docmaui.eyeMD