An optician reveals the surprise reason you should wear sunglasses all year round...
Think of sunglasses and (given we live in the UK) you'll probably start imagining being on a beach overseas, lapping up the rays. Well, it turns out we may all need to think twice on how often we dig our sunnies out, as experts are speaking out to advise wearing shades all year round – for the good of your eye health.
Yep, not only do sunglasses help to protect your eyes from the sun's rays, but they also serve a few other purposes too, says Kyla Black BSC (Hons) MCOptom, Head of Professional Services at Boots Opticians.
"Sunglasses are often seen as a fashion accessory, but in addition to their style credentials we must also consider their importance as protective eyewear to prevent sun damage to the eyes," Black explains, adding that in the same way we now know UV rays from the sun can cause skin damage and speed up the appearance of ageing, those same UV rays also age all areas of the eye. "UV rays from the sun can also penetrate through cloud, so it is beneficial to wear sunglasses all year round, even when it is cloudy."
Digging into that 'ages all areas of the eye' tidbit, Black adds that "long term exposure to sunlight can increase the risk of eye conditions such as cataracts, or age-related macular degeneration and certain types of eyelid cancers for example, basal cell carcinoma". In the short-term, she notes, too much sun exposure without wearing sunglasses can also cause eyes to swell and go red, although they should recover quickly.
Something to keep in mind when shopping for a pair of sunnies is the lens filter rating, which sees pairs labelled between 0 (clear or very pale lenses offering minimal eye protection) to 4 (super dark lenses for mega sunshine e.g. the type you'd encounter up a mountain whilst skiing).
"If shopping in person, look out for stickers which detail the category and level of UV protection each pair of sunglasses have," says Black. "Category 4 sunglasses are typically only used for activities such as skiing when sunlight exposure is intense, whereas categories 0 to 3 are considered safe for all other activities including driving.
"Sunglasses will also detail their level of UV protection. For example, UV400 is the highest UV protection available. At Boots Opticians all of our sunglasses meet the British Standards for UV protection to ensure your eyes are fully protected against sun damage."
As well as making sure you've got the right set of specs on, Black also suggests that anybody who is keen to improve their eye health should be eating a balanced diet and staying hydrated. "Consuming a nutritious diet of fruits and vegetables may help reduce your risk of eye related conditions," she says. "Smoking and alcohol have also been linked to increased risk of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration, so trying to quit smoking and reducing consumption of alcohol may help to prevent these issues.
"Finally, and most importantly, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration can be spotted in the early stages even when you're not experiencing any symptoms, which is why we encourage everyone to get their eyes tested on a regular basis (every two years is recommended as a minimum)."
So, there you have it. Cloudy day? It's still well worth popping your sunglasses on.
To book an eye test at Boots Opticians click here. Right now, Boots Opticians are offering 25% off sunglasses until 6 June.
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