Britons risk eyesight by failing to wear UV protected sunglasses
More than half of Britons are putting their eyesight at risk by failing to wear ultraviolet protective sunglasses – or any sunglasses at all – with young children particularly vulnerable, a new report warns.
The poll for the eye research charity Fight for Sight found that 54 per cent of people in Britain say they rarely, if ever, wear UV sunglasses in the sunshine.
An even higher percentage were unaware that wearing UV protective sunglasses in sunny weather can reduce the chances of people developing cataracts and can accelerate age-related macular degeneration.
“We’d encourage people to make sure that they are protecting their eyes during this sunny weather,” said Dr Neil Ebenezer, research director at Fight for Sight.
“The eyes of children under five are particularly vulnerable so it’s especially important that they are protected,” he said.
To be safe, people should buy sunglasses with the CE mark for UV protection to guarantee that they meet the European standard, Dr Ebenezer said – before going on to bust some myths.
Contrary to the perceived wisdom that UV exposure is highest in the summer, ultraviolet levels are actually the same all year round – and are only 10 to 20 per cent lower on a cloudy day than a sunny one.
“So on an overcast day,
0 Sunglasses should be worn to protect against strong ultra-violet – even on cloudy days, said charity
remember to wear your shades,” he said.
Meanwhile, it is true that people with blue eyes are more at risk from UV damage, he said, because they contain less of a protective pigment called melanin.
Another perceived wisdom – that your ears are even more susceptible to burning than
your skin – is also true, Dr Ebenezer said.
People should also wear plenty of sun screen of a type that is both UVA and UVB resistant, since they frequently apply far too little, experts said.
Arecentuniversityofsydney study of 18 to 40 year olds found that those who were
regular users of sunscreen in childhood reduced their risk of developing melanoma by 40 per cent, compared to those who rarely used sunscreen.
Regular users of sunscreen were more likely to be female, younger, of British or northern European ancestry, more educatedandwithlighterskin, the study found. Meanwhile, people were less likely to use sunscreen if they were male, older, less educated, or had skin that was darker.
Another study found that sunscreen is washing off swimmers bodies into the sea in such huge quantities that it is interfering with the development of fish embryos.