Radcliffe opticians visits schools to warn of UV ray dangers to young eyes

As the school summer holidays draws ever closer, children across Nottingham are getting ready to spend time outside soaking up the sun.

In preparation for the warmer months, Radcliffe Optician, Lesley Cree has visited local schools to raise awareness of the ever present threat UV rays pose to the eyes, warning the young to wear sunglasses.

Children have large pupils and extremely clear lenses that let in lots of UV light. As a result, across a lifetime it is thought we receive 80 per cent of our exposure to UV rays before the age of 18. Despite the young being particularly vulnerable to sun damage, independent opticians point out that only 3 per cent of children regularly wear sunglasses.

Coming together under the “Eye Love My Local Independent Optician” campaign, Lesley Cree Opticians is urging people, especially parents to take care in the sun and protect their child’s eyes from both natural and artificial ultraviolet rays.

Having recently presented a talk to children at Radcliffe on Trent Infant & Junior School, Lesley Cree said: “Children should be encouraged to wear sunglasses throughout the year, especially during the summer. Good quality sunglasses can filter out most, if not all, UV radiation and wearing a wide-brimmed hat can also reduce the risk of potential eye-related damage.

She added, “Over exposure to ultraviolet light, such as spending a day at the beach without proper eye protection can cause a temporary but painful burn to the surface of the eye, similar to sunburn on the skin.”

Parents need to acknowledge the dangers of UV rays and ensure children visit their local optician for annual eye tests, to identify any visual  problems.