The clear front of the eyes, called the cornea, can be damaged by over exposure to ultraviolet radiation from the sun and from other light sources, such as a welder’s arc or camera flash. These injuries are called corneal flash burns or ultraviolet keratitis, and is like a form of sunburn to the surface of the eye. Corneal flash burns can cause pain, changes in vision or loss of vision. Radiation damage to the cornea leading to a flash burn can be caused by ultraviolet light from various sources: Sunlamp in tanning salon. Reflection of the sun off the snow at high elevation (snow blindness) Photographer’s flood lamp. Lightning that strikes close to you. Halogen lamp.