Are Black Lights or UV Lights bad for your eyes?!

Are Black Lights or UV Lights bad for your eyes?

I've been told that Black Lights (the type you see at parties or bowling allies) are bad for your eyes - can ruin your vision over time. Is this true?

I'm thinking of getting some black lights for my room (I think they're funky). However, if they are going to ruin my eyes, I wouldn't consider it.

I checked Wikipedia, and it mentions that a lot of UVB light is bad for you, but Black Lights are UVA light...? Are they bad for your eyes?

Can you help me out?

Hello there! Yes your right black lights are UVA or Longwave UV. Here is some info I found...
"UV-A - "longwave" UV, also known as blacklight, the major type of UV in sunlight, responsible for skin tanning, generally not harmful, used in medicine to treat certain skin disorders"

"In general, UVA is the least harmful, but can contribute to the aging of skin, DNA damage and possibly skin cancer. It penetrates deeply and does not cause sunburn. Because it does not cause reddening of the skin (erythema) it cannot be measured in the SPF testing. There is no good clinical measurement of the blocking of UVA radiation, but it is important that sunscreen block both UVA and UVB."

I can't really make a judgment call for you... but they are the least damaging of the UV rays. As long as your not in the blacklight too much then you will probably be fine. Good luck with your decision :)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/uv-a...