uv rays

i travel lot by flights and occupy the window seat.at high altitudes i have the the habbit to look out.i want to know whether the uv rays from the sun harm my eyes.can it cause floaters increse or vision loss or macular degeneration.i m frm india.kindly explain.

[Michael J Kutryb, MD]

I have wondered about that question and don't know the specifications of the window glass, but I suspect is is quite thick and filters most of the uv light.  Actually it is the other rays that I wonder about even more.  Things like x-rays, gamma rays, and other cosmic rays may increase your risk of cataracts if you spent an extreme amount of time at very high altitude.  THis is not proven but some studies suggest that there might be an increased risk of cataracts in pilots and astronauts.  Definitely just a theory by some at this point.  Not proven.

MJK MD