The Vision Council celebrates National Sunglasses Day every year on 27 June to raise awareness of the “importance of wearing ultraviolet (UV)-protective sunwear and eyewear”.

When most people think of sunglasses they think of a fashion accessory; something mainly seen on A-listers and models. Only 1 in 6 adults realise that wearing sunglasses is actually essential for eye health.

Why should you wear sunglasses?

Sunglasses, with the correct UVA and UVB protection of 99-100%, can;

• protect eyes from allergies and reduce the eye symptoms of hay fever
• reduce symptoms of dry eyes caused by debris or wind
• reduce the risk of eye strain caused by squinting
• protect eye tissue from burning, which can occur from sun exposure
• protect from eye conditions caused by the sun such as cataracts and macular degeneration

Macular degeneration

Macular degeneration is a leading cause of blindness that can occur due to damage to the retina from prolonged sun exposure. Macular degeneration causes central vision loss. It can initially appear as blurred vision and loss of colour vibrancy, which gets worse as the vision degenerates.

The condition can of course be caused by other things, such as medication, age, family history and alcohol misuse, but it is important to minimise the risk of the condition developing by protecting the sensitive tissues in the eye.

Sadly, as medical negligence specialists, we see plenty of cases where patients have suffered damage to the eye tissues resulting in a loss of vision. This injury can understandably have a detrimental impact on a patient’s day to day life and their plans for the future.

How to look after your eyes

In order to maintain good eye health you should:

• wear sunglasses – even children (no matter how many times they get broken or lost!)
• check your family’s eye history and keep “an eye out” for any recognisable symptoms
• eat the right foods; enough spinach to make Popeye jealous!
• AND MOST IMPORTANTLY have a comprehensive eye exam at least every 2 years

How can Graysons help?

If you have suffered an eye injury that you think has been caused by medication or one that has been missed by medical professionals, please contact us to discuss your case and find out if you can make a claim for medical negligence compensation.

Find out more about eye health on the NHS website

By Nikki Yavari, medical negligence solicitor.