Professor welcomes UV move by Boots Opticians

An Oxford professor has welcomed an announcement from Boots Opticians that it will become the first high street optician in the UK to only sell spectacles with UV protection lenses.

The multiple announced the step this week together with a new pricing strategy.

Robert MacLaren, professor of ophthalmology at Oxford University, said: ‘It’s encouraging to see this initiative to improve eye health and I hope other opticians will follow suit.’

Boots has vowed to provide the lenses with UV coating at no extra cost, including for NHS patients.

MacLaren added: ‘Ultraviolet rays are absorbed at the front of the eye and can cause damage to the surface of the eye leading to irritation and redness.