'La Repubblica' Gives new UV Index

For the first time starting from June, an Italian daily newspaper will print the new UV INDEX, thanks to the agreement between La Repubblica and Barberini, Intercast Europe and Sola Sunlens, 3 leading producers of top-quality sun lenses. The index gives information on the levels of ultraviolet radiation, which is particularly dangerous as it cannot be felt in terms of heat, it is invisible to the human eye but is a health risk for our eyes.

The internationally recognized UV index will be in addition to the weather forecasts for today, tomorrow and the next day for all monitored cities in Italy and is easily recognizable thanks to the Sunglasses symbol at the top of the weather forecast column.

A service in the public interest, and new to Italy, it aims at making people aware of the dangers to the eyes through excessive exposure and without protection. The diffusion of the UV Index is part of a worldwide program to detect and forecast the damaging radiation that reaches our planet. Depending on the intensity, the World Health Organization suggests the use of graduated protection. The eyes are in fact our most sensitive and delicate organs and the ones that are most exposed to light and to ultraviolet radiation (UV), divided by danger levels: UVA is less damaging and if taken in the correct doses it turns our skin brown, but if too much is taken it causes premature ageing of the skin and eye damage; UVB can cause burning and diseases of the eye; UVC is categorically the most dangerous, however it does not penetrate the atmosphere.

For all these reasons it's a good idea to protect our eyes: all that's needed are glasses with lenses that filter out the UV and being sure that your retailer gives you the relevant manufacturer's guarantee.