We all want to make the most of the summer sun but it’s important to remember that UV rays are invisible, high-energy rays of light that, if absorbed by your eyes, can damage them. This happens because the UV light can cause a reaction in our eye tissue. Once this occurs, it cannot be reversed.

FACT: everyone is at risk of eye damage from the sun’s harmful rays all year-round.

 UV radiation in sunlight is commonly divided into UVA and UVB and all sunglasses for sale in Great Britain should give 100% UV protection on both forms of UV light. If you are unsure when purchasing sunglasses check the label it must say 100% UV protection and carry the CE mark.

 It is unwise however to assume that the more money you pay for  sunglasses the greater the protection from UV  radiation, even darker lenses do not give greater protection  

(they just reduce more light from passing through the lens).

As your optician any sunglasses purchased through us will always be of a high standard of quality and protection from all harmful UV rays.

Choosing sunglasses

Choosing sunglasses is as important as choosing prescription spectacles.

Sunglasses should be dark enough to reduce glare, but not dark enough to distort colours and affect the recognition of traffic signals. Tint colour is mostly a matter of personal choice and preferences however for best colour perception choose lenses that are neutral grey, amber, brown or green.

Children also should wear sunglasses, it’s as important as their hats and sun cream.

Care should be taken when choosing their eye protection not giving them toy sunglasses but real 100% UV protective just as with adults.

The UV rays from the sun can play a large role in the following eye conditions:

• Cataract - Clouding of the eye; causes  blurring or dimming of the vision
• Pteryguim - Tissue growth on the whites of the eyes; can block vision
• Skin cancer - Eyelids and facial skin can develop  melanoma
• Age-related macular degeneration - Deterioration of the eye’s macula sensitive centre of the retina