Tanning in Beds Without Goggles

A quick tanning bed session may seem like no big deal. Yet just five minutes under the ultraviolet (UV) rays can have serious health consequences. UV rays emitted by tanning beds can increase the risk of cancer and lead to premature wrinkles. Tanning in a bed without goggles or eye protection can cause irreversible damage to your vision. Although a few minutes under the lamps without eye protection may seem harmless, the effects can be life changing.

Rules and Regulations

Federal law requires tanning salons and facilities to provide eye protection for customers. If you forget your goggles or do not have a pair, the salon will have them on hand for you to wear. Under the law, the eye protection provided must be sanitized and must block 99 percent of of UV rays. Sunglasses or cotton balls are not sufficient protection. Tanning salons are not to let customers tan without approved goggles. Before allowing a customer to use a bed, they must ask to see the person's eye protection.

Burns

Tanning in a bed without goggles can cause the eyes to burn, even if they are closed. Eyelids are thin and do not offer enough protection against UV rays on their own. The rays can penetrate the eyelids and cause burns to the cornea. While this damage goes away with time, an eye burn can be very painful. The Eye Center reports a cornea burn can take anywhere from six to 12 hours to develop, meaning you may not even know that your eye has been burnt until much later.

Cancer Risk

The International Agency for Research on Cancer has placed tanning beds in the highest cancer risk category. According to the Skin Cancer Foundation, indoor tanning raises the risk of developing melanoma by 74 percent. Melanoma is the most serious form of skin cancer. The eyelids and skin around the eyes are just as susceptible to developing cancerous cells as any other area of skin. Tanning without protection raises the cancer risk even more.

Permanent Eye Damage

UV rays in the eyes can lead to a condition known as cataracts. According to the Mayo Clinic, cataracts are characterized by a clouding of the eyes. People with cataracts are sensitive to light and have difficulty with their vision at night. Cataracts can be helped with glasses but eventually may require surgery.

Macular degeneration can also result from tanning without proper eye protection. This eye disorder causes permanent damage to the retina, leading to vision loss and possibly blindness. Currently there is no cure for macular degeneration.