Your Eyes Resemble A Window For Sunlight’s Gifts – Limit Shading Them Unless Necessary
- May 24, 2024
- 8 min read
Updated: Aug 2
Ida is a certified aesthetician (graduate of Marvel School of Beauty), offering home-based services since 1994. Ida provides various holistic services. She graduated from Zanqara’s Skin Care’s Dermatician course in 1994, which required her to understand homeopathic remedies.
Our eyes do much more than help us see – they help us get the most out of sunlight. They play a big part in making hormones, such as melatonin, which is important for sleep and overall health. Many people now use synthetic melatonin, but using too much can cause side effects. By learning how sunlight and natural methods help our bodies make melatonin, we can better understand how it affects our eyes, sleep, skin, and health.
The paradox: Natural vs. Synthetic melatonin production
Melatonin is a hormone found in plants, animals, and people. Some think synthetic melatonin is safer because it lacks natural contaminants. Still, synthetic supplements are not the same as the melatonin our bodies make from sunlight and healthy foods.
Melatonin overuse & side effects
Many parents and caregivers use melatonin because it is a cheap, over-the-counter sleep aid. Between 2012 and 2021, melatonin uses in children rose quickly, leading to more cases of poisoning. US poison control centers reported a 530 percent increase in melatonin use among children during this period, with some cases leading to hospital stays and deaths, according to the CDC's Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).
Consumption of excessive synthetic melatonin can bring on a host of side effects, including:
Drowsiness, headaches, dizziness, and irritability
Stomach aches, vomiting, and dry mouth
Restlessness and hyperthermia
Fluctuations in blood pressure
Dry or itchy skin and photosensitivity issues
It is important for aestheticians to understand how different ingredients support health. As a Certified Holistic Aesthetician and Reflexologist, I wanted to learn more about how melatonin affects skin health and the whole body.
Melatonin dosage considerations (Health Canada's 2026 Mandate)
If you choose to take melatonin as an adult, Health Canada recommends picking a product with a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label. This shows it has been checked for safety and quality. Adults should begin with the lowest effective dose, such as 1 milligram.
For children, the rules are different. Starting June 2, 2026, Health Canada will require a prescription for all melatonin sleep products for anyone under 18. Over-the-counter melatonin will no longer be available for kids in Canada. If a child or teen has trouble sleeping, parents will need to see a licensed healthcare provider for a prescription. This ensures a professional reviews the child's sleep habits and health, following the idea that less hormone use is better for children.
International frameworks (For Countries Without NPNs)
Since this article is for a global audience, it is important to know that melatonin rules are very different in each country:
United States: The FDA does not issue NPNs and treats melatonin as a dietary supplement, not a drug. The FDA does not check these supplements for safety or label accuracy before they are sold, so third-party testing is important. Studies have found that melatonin gummies can contain between 74% and 347% of the amount listed on the label. To stay safe, look for third-party testing seals like USP (U.S. Pharmacopeia) or NSF International, which show the product matches its label.
United Kingdom, Europe, and Australia: In many countries, melatonin is not available over the counter. In the UK, Australia, and most of Europe, it is a Prescription-Only Medicine (POM). Some EU countries allow very small doses (under 1 mg) as food supplements, but higher doses need a doctor's prescription to prevent hormone problems and protect children. The idea of "less is more" fits well here. Always talk to a qualified healthcare provider before giving synthetic hormones to your family.
Melatonin production in the eye & the eye-skin relationship
Our skin, eyes, and the light around us are closely linked by similar biological systems. Research shows that both our skin and eyes have the same light-sensitive parts: the pigment rhodopsin and its helper, retinal. This means your skin can sense sunlight on its own. The cells that make pigment in your skin, called melanocytes, have these eye-like receptors to detect ultraviolet light directly.
Brown Eyes: People with brown eyes have more melanin in their irises. This helps them absorb more types of light, including red and near-infrared, which protects against radiation damage. However, because their eyes and skin filter out more ultraviolet light, they make Vitamin D more slowly and need more time in the sun to produce enough.
Blue Eyes: People with blue or light-colored eyes have less melanin in their irises. This lets light pass through more easily, which helps them see better in low light and make Vitamin D faster with less sun. But because they have less pigment, their eyes and skin are more at risk for radiation and UV damage.
Since both the eyes and skin use similar receptors to sense light, blocking either one with strong, constant barriers like UV-blocking glasses in the morning can change how your body understands the natural light cycle and manages its defences.
Light through the eyes: The melatonin connection
While the skin reacts to light on its own, our overall daily rhythm starts in the retina. Light-sensitive cells in there help set our main internal clock, called the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which is in the brain's hypothalamus. The SCN controls our 24-hour cycle of light and dark.
The pineal gland responds to signals from the SCN. When bright morning light enters your eyes, the SCN tells the pineal gland to lower melatonin levels. This matters because melatonin helps repair your cells, but keeping it low during the day helps you stay awake and alert. When it gets dark or you close your eyes, the SCN tells the pineal gland to make more melatonin, which lowers your body temperature and helps you sleep deeply.
The tyrosine factor: Fueling the light pathway
Tyrosine, an amino acid that contains copper, is an important but often overlooked part of how our eyes process light. Tyrosine helps make dopamine, norepinephrine, and melanin in the eye.
Tyrosine is also important for our sleep-wake cycle because it helps convert environmental light signals into the natural hormone melatonin. This shows that getting regular, natural light through our eyes is essential for good health. It also explains why synthetic melatonin supplements cannot fully match the complex effects of sunlight on our hormones.
The balance of sun protection
Visible light, between 400 and 700 nanometers, helps set your body's natural rhythm and supports healthy sleep and hormone balance. Getting daylight through your eyes is important for your circadian rhythm. Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses all day can change how your body senses light, so it is best to find a balance. Regular, safe morning light helps keep your mood steady and your internal clock working well. Whether you can see or not, wearing UV-blocking sunglasses on sunny days can alter how your brain perceives the light cycle. This can affect how your body naturally protects itself.
Sunglasses have a practical use
Sunglasses are still important for pilots, drivers, skiers, people with sensitive eyes, and those who are visually impaired to reduce glare. However, it is best to use them in moderation if they prevent you from getting morning light that helps set your body clock.
Circadian realities of visual impairment
People who are blind face unique challenges in keeping their body clocks on track. About 18% of people with visual impairments cannot sense light at all, so they cannot naturally match their internal clock to the sun. Many have ongoing sleep problems and need special medical care or medication to manage their sleep cycles. The other 82% of blind people still receive light through their eyes and often use special sunglasses to protect their eyes.
UV-protecting products to evaluate
It is important to consider how products such as transitional lenses, clear prescription glasses, contact lenses, and tinted windows affect the light we receive. Dark sunglasses without UV protection are risky because they make your pupils larger, let in more harmful UV light, and trick your brain into thinking it is nighttime.
New optical technology has made options like CR39 lenses available, which are affordable and provide good vision. However, CR39 is less impact-resistant and scratches more easily than polycarbonate. This is why eye doctors often add protective coatings to these lenses to keep them safe and clear.
Natural ways to support melatonin production
Our eyes use the morning sun as a signal to wake up and the red light of evening as a sign to get ready for sleep. Using both natural and electronic light that follows these patterns can help support good health:
Red Light: Exposure before bedtime enhances relaxation and sleep readiness.
Blue Light: Signals daytime alertness to the eyes. Many electronic devices now have settings like Night Shift or Eye Comfort Shield to reduce blue light after hours.
Dietary Precursors: Many foods contain safe, natural melatonin or the nutrients needed to make your own, offering another way to support your health.
Protecting your skin and circadian rhythm
Using sunscreen or eating foods rich in natural Vitamin A helps protect your body from UV rays. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat or a baseball cap is a good alternative to sunglasses because it reduces direct UV exposure to your eyes but still lets in daylight from the sides to keep your body clock in sync. The key is to balance natural and artificial light exposure.
Unexplored realm of UV coatings
Wearing clear glasses with UV coatings all the time, along with excessive synthetic melatonin use, could make modern sleep problems worse. Blocking natural daylight with eyewear maycan cause a hormone imbalance, prompting people to take more synthetic melatonin. More research is needed to give clear advice in the future.
The myth of tanning beds
Tanning beds use UVA lamps that penetrate deep into the skin to create a tan, but they can mislead people into thinking they offer protection against future UV exposure or reduced DNA damage. Most tanning beds do not have UVB rays, which are needed for your skin to make Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for strong bones and a healthy immune system, but tanning beds are not a safe or recommended way to get it.
Conclusion
Our eyes play a key role in sending light signals to the brain, which helps control our body clock and melatonin levels. Getting morning sunlight and relaxing in the evening are simple, holistic ways to improve sleep and support your body's natural repair process.
Our eyes connect directly to many brain functions, including the production of melatonin and vitamin D. Relying too much on UV-protective products and synthetic melatonin can upset the natural balance of light and hormones. Natural melatonin is more effective than synthetic forms. Following the natural patterns of morning and evening sunlight is the simplest way to improve sleep and overall health. In Canada, look for a Natural Product Number; in other countries, check for third-party testing such as USP or NSF. Since sleep problems in children can have many causes, global communities should use strict clinical oversight for pediatric sleep care. This is shown by Canada's June 2026 rule-making pediatric melatonin prescription-only, and by similar bans in the UK and Europe. Any sleep management or melatonin use for minors should always be handled by a qualified healthcare provider.
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Ida Fanelli, Aesthetician, Reflexologist & IPL & Dolphin MPS Technician
Ida is a dedicated wellness professional and certified aesthetician (Marvel School of Beauty), providing personalized, home-based services since 1994. A certified reflexologist since 1993 (D'Arcy Lane Institute), she has integrated energy therapies and Ion Cleanse foot wellness sessions since 1998. In 2012, she became a certified Sharplight IPL Technician for skin rejuvenation and pigmentation correction, and in 2019 earned a specialized certification from the Center for Pain and Stress Research, using the Dolphin Neurostim system for Microcurrent Point Stimulation to support scar tissue release, skin rejuvenation, and pigmentation lightening. Ida is deeply committed to continuing education in complementary health to provide accessible, high-quality care. She also brings 12 years of experience as a hospital laboratory technologist in Microbiology and Biochemistry to her meticulous practice.
Important Consumer Notice: This article is intended for educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended to serve as medical advice or to replace professional medical diagnosis, therapy, or targeted treatment. Always consult a licensed physician, nurse practitioner, or qualified healthcare provider regarding any suspected chronic conditions, medical concerns, or before starting any new health protocol or supplement.
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References:
https://www.parkerslegacy.com/is-there-glasses-for-the-blind/
https://www.visionaustralia.org/news/2020-08-11/sleeping-tips-people-who-are-blind
https://www.photonics.com/Articles/Skin_Sees_UV_Light_Produces_Melanin/a48969
https://www.sleepfoundation.org/melatonin/melatonin-dosage-how-much-should-you-take
https://www.sportrx.com/blog/polycarbonate-vs-cr-39-lenses/#
https://www.mountsinai.org/health-library/supplement/vitamin-a-retinol
https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn21127-skin-sees-the-light-to-protect-against-sunshine/
