Ultraviolet (UV) levels are expected to be higher than average this weekend as the temperatures soar and the sun continues to shine over Scotland.
Health experts are reminding sunseekers taking advantage of the slightly-relaxed lockdown measures which are now in effect across the country, why they should wear sunglasses when they’re out and about.
Thursday was officially the hottest day of the year and the mercury shows no signs of slipping, so it’s a good time to remind people why sunglasses are necessary - whatever your age.
Sunglasses protect the lens of your eyes
UV rays, especially Ultraviolet B (UVB), getting into the lens can lead to clouding of the eye, also known as cataracts. The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates up to 20 per cent of cataracts may be caused by overexposure to UV radiation and preventable through the right protection.
Sunglasses protect the retina
High quality sunglasses protect your retina against blue light from the solar spectrum, which could increase the risk of macular disease including wet and dry macular degeneration.
This can result in blurred or darkened vision in the centre of your eyes, which, over a prolonged period of time can lead to blindness - although sufferers will retain some sight, usually in their periphery vison.
Sunglasses protect sensitive skin
The skin around your eyes is particularly sensitive to sunlight, with around 10 per cent of skin cancers being on the eyelids, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation.
A pair of UV-stamped sunglasses offers the best form of protection.
Sunglasses protect against tissue growth
The sun’s harmful rays can also cause tissue growth on the eyeball called pterygium, which is an inflammation of the cornea.
This can extend over the centre of the cornea and cause a reduction in vision.
These can be removed with surgery, however, they tend to recur and can be painful.
Watch and sunglasses specialist, Tic Watches, also looked at the dangers of wearing fake designer sunglasses, which often offer no protection against UV rays.
A recent survey by 4media of 2,000 Brits found that a third of adults admitted to owning a fake designer product.
Dodgy designer sunglasses can be harmful because they are often made from cheap materials and will rarely provide any protection for UV light.
Unprotected sunglasses block out some of the visible light, meaning your pupils will naturally dilate to absorb more light and with no UV filter, this can be harmful.
Daniel Richmond, Managing Director of Tic Watches, said: “When choosing sunglasses, you need to be looking for ones with 100% UVA and UVB protection.
“This means they provide full protection against the sun’s Ultraviolet rays, which can be very harmful to your eyes. There are many fake designer products or cheap sunglasses that won’t have any protection at all.”
To find out how to spot the difference between real and fake designer items, visit ticwatches here.
