Sun eye protection

When the sun comes out, in addition to applying sunscreen to our skin, Lesley Cree Opticians in Radcliffe on Trent is advising that we also need to put on our sunglasses to protect our eyes as well.

The sun’s UV radiation can be very damaging to the eyes, particularly to those of us with paler eye colours. This is because the pigment in our iris (eye colour) protects the eye by cutting out the light, in the same way that pigment in darker skins protects our skin burning so easily.

Darker eye colours are naturally more protected than paler eyes.

For your protection only wear sunglasses displaying the CE kite mark and guaranteeing to absorb all UV up to 400nm.

POLARIZING lenses in sunglasses cut out all glare from horizontal surfaces. They are especially effective against glare for driving and water sports.

WRAP frames are curved to bow around the face and so reduce light entering the eyes from the sides. They are particularly used in sports sunglasses such as the Oakley Prism Sunglasses range. In the same way, hats with a wide brim or peak reduce light from above and can be effective.

Sun spectacle tints can vary in colour with dark brown or dark grey being common, or the favourite Rayban sunglasses tint of dark green also being popular. Most tints will cut out up to 85% of all visual light.

Don’t forget your children – They are more vulnerable to UV because of their larger pupils and clearer crystalline lens. UV exposure is cumulative and may not show its effect for many years. Long-term UV exposure to the eyes causes cataracts and macular degeneration. Consequently, those patients who have had cataract surgery; and those with macular degeneration are particularly recommended to protect their eyes from UV exposure.

People who wear glasses can wear sunglasses too – sunglasses can be made up to any prescription: distance, reading, bifocals or varifocals. Call in to look at our fabulous range of sunglasses; with prescription sunnies starting at £90 complete.