Sun Awareness Week and looking after your eyes

SUN AWARENESS WEEK... Prevention is better than cure!

Did you know that... 10% of all skin cancers are found on the eyelid? No. Neither did I. And only 7% of us, when it comes to looking after our health this summer, will put eye damage at the top of our agenda. That's staggering isn't it, but I get it... Having small children, I've been great at purchasing cheap sunglasses over the years. They've been grabbed off my head a lot, stretched, sat on, you know how it goes. Frankly, the only two times that I did wear expensive sunnies, it wasn't pretty. A mate trod on my hard-earned Chianti bought Versace's, and the boyfriend buy Prada pair were stolen off a restaurant table top anyway, (can you believe it?!) which only served to reinforce not spending any money on them. But it's not a good thing is it. Knowing the stats. And knowing Lyme Disease is wrecking my sight too. Blurred vision plagues my eyesight these days, although as I continue with my healthy approach to living, I have days where they appear to be slowly improving.

Fittingly, it's a beautifully sunny day... for the start of Sun Awareness Week. Vision Express, raising awareness on the matter, have collated five top tips to eye health which are worth casting your all-important eyes over... Take heed of number four all you parents out there. P.S. Did you know they have high quality, value for money alternatives to designer glasses starting at £29? Just saying... 

Five tips to keeping eyes safe in the sun:

1. Wear sunglasses even when it’s cloudy – make sure to wear sunglasses while outdoors at all times, even if your eyes feel fine, as some of the effects of too much light can be delayed just as in sunburn. Prolonged sun exposure has been direcly linked to cataract formation and pterygium and are seen more commonly on people who spend a lot of time outdoors and in hot climates.

2. Size matters – when purchasing a new pair of sunglasses, always make sure that the frames fit well and the lenses are large enough to stop too much light entering over the top or from the sides – this will be prevent harmful UV rays getting through.

3. Have regular eye examinations – the best way to protect your eyes is by having regular check-ups. These will highlight any sight problems or damage, such as cataracts, macular degeneration or skin cancer, and can determine other health issues such as high cholesterol and even diabetes.

4. Protect from a young age – children are exposed to more UV rays compared to adults, therefore it’s crucial to equip children with sunglasses from an early age. Young people's eyes are more sensitive to UV absorption and under-12s are particularly susceptible because the clear lenses in their eyes are not yet properly formed.

5. Consider polarized shades – these lenses offer the best protection in the sun, blocking indirect glare and reducing the need to squint, which can cause muscle fatigue, headaches and eye strain. Polarized lenses reduce glare caused by the scattering of light from surfaces which makes them particularly useful when on or near water or other light coloured surfaces.