Eyecare Trust: Eyes can be protected

People can protect their eyes from harmful UV rays in sunlight if they wear sunglasses, according to optometrist Rosie Gavzey.

Ms Gavzey, who is a trustee of the Eyecare Trust, said although protecting eyes can be this simple, too few people are aware of the harms of UV rays and what they can do to protect their eyesight.

She warned that the effect of UV is cumulative, so that as time passes the eyes absorb more and more of the rays.

"We all need a bit of sunlight for vitamin D but it's the prolonged exposure that you have to be careful of," Ms Gavzey told inthenews.co.uk.

"Although something like 95 per cent of people are aware of skin cancer and melanoma because of government awareness campaigns, it's something like less than ten per cent of people know that UV has anything to do with their eyes or that it does any damage.

"The public needs to be made aware of the problem."

The optometrist added that children particularly need to be protected from UV rays as their eyes are much more transparent and they tend to spend more time outdoors.

Ms Gavzey recommends that children wear a baseball cap or a similar hat when outside and that all people - both young and old - wear sunglasses when there is a glare in the sky and not just when it is sunny.

Although people may worry that they look pretentious with their shades on, if there is a glare in the sky - even on a cloudy day - there is UV in the atmosphere.

Sunglasses should be at least 99 per cent UVA and UVB-blocking.