Why even children must wear sunglasses

ULTRAVIOLET (UV) light from sunny weather can damage the eyes over time, raising the risk of conditions such as cataracts (where the lens becomes cloudy) and age-related macular degeneration (which damages the retina), says Damian Lake, a consultant ophthalmic surgeon at the McIndoe Centre in East Grinstead, West Sussex.

Melanin, the pigment that gives eyes their colour, usually protects the retina from UV damage but, as we age, melanin levels decline.

‘UV light creates a chemical reaction in the lens fibres through a process called glycation, ultimately leading the lens to become less transparent,’ says Mr Lake.

There are two main types of UV light. ‘UVA is probably more damaging than UVB [the rays that cause sunburn], because it penetrates more deeply, but you should buy sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection.

‘Really, you need something with the CE mark.’

Sunglasses that have no UV protection could be worse than wearing no sunglasses, as the dark lenses make the pupils of your eyes dilate and let in more harmful rays. Mr Lake adds: ‘Repeated exposure to the sun can also cause changes in the skin on the eyelids or, in rare cases, the eye’s surface, which can lead to cancer — we’re seeing more of both.

‘You often see little lesions on the edge of the eyelid. Some are very slow-growing and people often discount them because they have “been there for ages”. But they are, in fact, a form of cancer — usually basal cell carcinoma, the most common type of skin cancer.

‘If you treat it early, you can get it off entirely. If not, it can spread into the bone and patients may need extensive reconstruction work.’

To protect the eye area, you need large glasses. ‘Ideally, they will cover your eyebrows, the bone below the eye and the edge of your nose,’ says Mr Lake.

‘Wraparound types provide the best protection.’

Children should wear glasses from whatever age they will keep them on and babies should be kept in the shade.