Patients unaware of UV risk to eye health

Less than a quarter of patients are aware of the risks of ultraviolet radiation to their eye health according to research carried out by Optician among eye care professionals.

The study, sponsored by Johnson & Johnson, also highlighted areas of weakness in optical professionals' understanding of the risks posed by sunlight and communication and record-keeping on the topic.

Questionnaires completed by 400 Optician readers last month revealed the poor levels of understanding patients have about UV risk. A third of practitioners thought under 10 per cent of their patients understood the role UV played in eye damage. An even greater number (36 per cent) said between 11 and 25 per cent of their patients understood the danger. A tiny 2 per cent of respondents said most of their patients (76 to 100 per cent) recognised the dangers of UV.