Views: 0 Author: Site Editor Publish Time: 2026-06-11 Origin: Site
Friends who have raised ornamental fish must be familiar with ultraviolet disinfection lamps (UV lamps). They can effectively kill harmful bacteria in water, reduce the risk of fish diseases, inhibit algal blooms, purify water quality, and are almost standard equipment in ornamental fish tanks. However, recently, a family of five in Ningbo went to the emergency room in the early morning, and three of them were diagnosed with electric eye inflammation, simply because these three people were close to watching fish while working on the UV lamp in the fish tank for a period of time. Similar cases are not uncommon, such as in 2022, a man in Hangzhou turned on the ultraviolet disinfection device while cleaning a fish tank, but forgot to turn it off afterwards. He stayed indoors and was rushed to the hospital in the middle of the night due to eye pain and tears.
Why can UV lamps damage eyes?
1.High energy, strong penetration
The UV disinfection lamp for fish tanks mainly emits ultraviolet light in the UVC band (200-280nm). The ultraviolet photons in this band have extremely high energy. Although their penetration is not as strong as UVA, they have a strong destructive power on biological cells.
2.Corneal '0' protection
The corneal and conjunctival epithelial cells of the human eye have almost no defense against UVC ultraviolet radiation. After ultraviolet irradiation, it is easy to cause corneal epithelial damage, lens damage, etc., which may lead to eye diseases such as electrooptic ophthalmia and cataracts.
3.Terrifying 'incubation period'
The most dangerous thing is that UV damage has a latent period of 6-12 hours. When staring at the UV lamp, it may only feel a bit dazzling, but after a few hours, the eyes will start to ache severely. This' delayed onset 'has made many people relax their vigilance.
4.Scattering is also unsafe
Even without looking directly at the lamp tube, the scattered ultraviolet rays generated by UV lamps when they shine on water, glass, and white decorations can still cause chronic cumulative damage to the eyes.
How to avoid eye damage from UV lamps?
1.Choose the appropriate UV lamp
External sterilization lamp. External UV lamps are generally also used as overcurrent sterilization lamps, which need to be used in conjunction with fish tank filtration systems. UV rays only irradiate the water flowing through, with precise dosage and good sterilization effect, and will not cause harm to fish or human eyes.
Built in submersible UV light. Submersible UV lights are directly immersed in water and rely on natural flow, with unstable dosage. However, their easy installation is also a choice for many fish enthusiasts. It is recommended to install them in filter chambers or choose those with light shields.
2.Proper use of UV lamps
Install the fish tank UV lamp correctly according to the instructions and precautions. Before formal use, check and test for any UV leakage. If there is, adjust the installation position appropriately or install a shading plate at the leakage location.
When working with a submersible UV lamp, family members should be reminded to stay away, especially children (who are easily attracted by strong light), and not to stare at the fish tank.
After the UV lamp is finished working, it should be turned off in a timely manner or the timed function should be used to reduce the risk of forgetting to turn it off.
