Sunglass safety
Published
More than half of parents (55 per cent) fail to ensure their children wear sunglasses with UV protection when spending time outside in the sun, according to new research from The College of Optometrists. Less than 1 in 3 children wear sunglasses on sunny days as parents believe that a hat or cap offers the same protection.
This is very far from the case. Although wearing a wide-brimmed hat or cap can offer some protection from harmful UV rays, combining wearing a hat with sunglasses can reduce UV radiation from reaching your eyes by up to 98 per cent.
Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, clinical adviser at The College of Optometrists, explains: ‘Children are more susceptible to UV-related eye damage because their pupils are larger and their eye lenses clearer, which allows more UV radiation to reach their retina. Long term exposure to even small amounts of UV radiation has been linked to an increased risk of developing earlier onset cataracts, or macular degeneration, in later life. It’s important that parents encourage their children to wear both a hat and sunglasses in the summer months, and that they look for the CE or UKCA mark when buying sunglasses to ensure they meet British standards for UV protection.’
Sunglasses not only prevent glare: they can also protect the eyes from wind and debris, and wearing wraparound sunglasses can reduce hay fever symptoms.
For more advice about children’s eye health and sunglasses safety visit www.lookafteryoureyes.org
