UK patients are putting their sight at risk by choosing vanity over UV protection, according to new research by Vision Express.
Its study, among 800 members of the public, showed more than one in three sunglasses-buyers confess they don’t always check UV rating of lenses, despite 94% believing it is important to do so.
Research revealed an ‘over-riding assumption’ that all sunglasses carry full UVA and UVB protection, the optical chain said.
Omar Hassan, head of professional services at Vision Express, said: ‘Our concern highlighted by the research is that people are prioritising style over safety, mistakenly believing that all sunglasses are made to an equal standard to block all harmful UV rays. This just isn’t the case. It’s a huge problem because wearing tinted lenses with no protection “tricks” the pupil into dilating and ultimately may cause more damage to the retina than no protection at all.
‘A good pair of sunglasses will filter both UVA and UVB and significantly reduce the risk of eye conditions impacted by exposure to sun rays – this includes cataracts and macular degeneration – which can cause blindness. It’s estimated that every year three million people lose their sight due to prolonged exposure to UV, so while sun-safety is important for our skin, it’s crucial to protect the eyes too. Anyone buying sunglasses off the shelf without prescription should use a reputable retailer and check the frames are CE marked as UV400.’
It was also found that while three quarters of sunglasses wearers need a prescription, a third of them only purchase non-prescription frames.
Hassan added: ‘It’s important for the public to recognise that not all non-prescription sunglasses will provide adequate sight protection, and counterfeit sunglasses or buying from a market stall or beach vendor should be avoided. At best they could be a rip off – at worst they could be putting your vision at risk.
‘Studies tell us two million people in the UK are living with sight loss and forecasters predict a further half a million could lose their sight by the year 2020. So, our advice is to always be ‘sun safe’ when choosing eyewear, seek out an expert to advise on the best lenses for you, and adopt preventative measures to help safeguard sight as you age.’