04 May Specsavers highlights the importance of protecting your eyes against the sun
SKIN cancer is the most common form of cancer in the UK, but it isn’t just your skin the sun is damaging – it’s your eyes too.
To mark National Sun Awareness Week (Monday 2nd – Sunday 8th May) Specsavers is highlighting the importance of protecting your eyes against the sun.
Who doesn’t love the sun? It lifts your mood, gives you a boost of vitamin D, and is the perfect excuse to whip out the picnic blankets and barbecue for those London parks and gardens.
But frequent exposure to the sunlight’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can cause irreparable damage to your sight — especially if you aren’t protecting your eyes correctly.
Short-term overexposure to these harmful rays can lead to photokeratitis — a type of sunburn of the eye – while long-term overexposure can lead to cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and even some types of eye cancer.
The good news is that you can give your eyes a better chance of staying healthier for longer by wearing a good quality pair of sunglasses with UV protection.
Giles Edmonds, Specsavers’ clinical services director says: ‘Not all sunglasses offer the protection needed to stop harmful UV rays damaging your eyes. In fact, some sunglasses have no protection whatsoever, which can do more damage than good.
‘Look for glasses carrying the CE mark, or the British Standard (BS EN ISO 12312-1:2013), to ensure they match up to the appropriate safety standards.
‘All of Specsavers’ sunglasses meet the highest standard when it comes to UV protection. Pop into your local store or browse online to find your perfect pair.’
