Tanning beds emit highly concentrated ultraviolet (UV) radiation, often producing levels up to 100 times greater than the midday sun. Simply closing your eyes is wholly insufficient to shield the delicate structures of your eyes from this intense light source. Proper protective measures are mandatory to prevent both acute and long-term ocular damage.
Why Closed Eyelids Offer Minimal Protection
Closing your eyes offers a false sense of security. The skin of the eyelid is much thinner than skin on other parts of the body, providing only the equivalent of a very low sun protection factor (SPF), estimated around SPF 5. This minimal barrier is easily penetrated by the powerful UV radiation generated by tanning lamps, especially the longer-wavelength UVA rays.
Tanning beds utilize UV light designed to penetrate the outer layers of skin. This penetrating capability means a significant amount of UV energy passes right through the closed eyelid and is absorbed by the internal structures of the eye. If you close your eyes, you can often still perceive a reddish-orange glow, which is visual evidence that light is passing through the eyelid tissue. This penetration leaves the cornea, lens, and retina vulnerable to damage.
How UV Light Harms Ocular Tissues
Unprotected exposure to concentrated UV rays can cause immediate and painful acute damage, such as photokeratitis. This condition is essentially a sunburn of the cornea and conjunctiva (the clear surface and the membrane covering the white of the eye). Symptoms often include a gritty feeling, excessive tearing, redness, and severe pain, typically appearing several hours after the tanning session.
Repeated exposure contributes to cumulative, long-term damage, increasing the risk of developing cataracts. Cataracts involve the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which impairs vision and is accelerated by UV light damaging lens proteins. UV radiation exposure is also linked to the development of pterygium, a non-cancerous growth on the conjunctiva that can spread across the cornea. High doses of UV light can potentially reach and damage the retina, accelerating conditions like age-related macular degeneration.
The Necessity of Certified Tanning Goggles
The only way to ensure eye protection is to wear certified protective eyewear specifically designed for indoor tanning. Standard sunglasses, towels, or simply closing your eyes are insufficient alternatives because they do not meet stringent regulatory requirements. The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) mandates that protective eyewear must block 99.9% of UVB rays and 99% of UVA rays.
Certified tanning goggles, sometimes called “winkies,” utilize specialized materials to completely absorb the dangerous wavelengths emitted by the tanning lamps. These devices must be worn correctly throughout the entire session to prevent UV light from seeping in around the edges. Technical compliance with federal regulation 21 CFR 1040.20 distinguishes these purpose-built goggles from any other form of eyewear.