The health of our eyes and the sun's rays: children are more vulnerable
UVB and UVA rays are among the main causes of sight damage, which can also manifest itself after a considerable period of time. This is why prevention and protection are the key-words when speaking about children. Indeed, we must not forget that a child's crystalline lens lets through 75% of UV rays, while an adult's lets through only 10%, and that 80% of exposure to the sun in an entire lifetime occurs before the age of 18.
So, children are vulnerable, because their eyes are not completely developed, they spend a considerable amount of time outdoors, they are less aware they have a sight problem (there are over 12 million school-aged children in the world with a sight problem). The situation is made worse by environmental factors, such as the hole in the ozone layer (which has reached a record size of 27.4 million square kilometers) and limited information for consumers. So, it is no wonder that only 4 % of consumers in Europe believe it is important to 'protect' the eyes from the sun's rays, while at least 83% claim they are aware of the need to protect the skin!
According to Susan Stenson, a teacher of ophthalmology at the New York University School of Medicine, UV rays are invisible and therefore represent an 'invisible and real' threat to the quality of our sight and the health of our eyes. Although there is an increased risk on bright, sunny days, any amount of light results in exposure to UV rays and represents a potential threat 365 days of the year.
Speaking of sight, we must not forget that:
-eyes do not develop a tolerance to UVA and UVB rays, but they become more sensitive each time they are exposed
-only 15% of people regularly wear protective glasses when performing outside activities
-it is estimated that 20% of cataracts are caused by sun damage
- glare mainly bothers people with fair eyes, for the same reasons fair skin is more susceptible to burning. Fair skin and eyes contain less pigment than darker skin and darker eyes
-we expect a lot of our eyes; on a normal day, our eyes use the same amount of energy as our legs use to run about 50 kilometers.
More communication and greater commitment from institutions and operators seem to be the way forward to increase attention on the problem. Hence, the commitment by Transitions Optical, a world leader in the technology of photochromic lenses, which is developing projects all over the world 'to educate' and sensitize consumers.
In Italy, in addition to the television campaign on Rai, Mediaset and Sky, Transitions Optical participates in numerous social or educative initiatives. Included among these is the project 'Bimbovisione, vedere bene per apprendere meglio' (Bimbovisione, seeing well to learn better) promoted by Federottica, which will be presented at the next College of Optometrists Congress in Bologna. The project includes a series of conferences and seminars in primary schools during which opticians-optometrists, with specific teaching skills, will inform teachers and parents about all of the problems that defective vision can bring, and about what the school and family can do to guarantee children's health and visual wellbeing.
Transitions® lenses represent one of the most technologically advanced solutions available to consumers today. These extremely versatile ophthalmic lenses, for adults and children, not only correct all sight problems (myopia, presbyopia, astigmatism etc) but also darken automatically in the sunlight, blocking out 100% of UVA and UVB rays, protecting against glare, improving sensitivity to contrasts and ensuring visual wellbeing in all conditions of light.
This is why they were the first to receive the 'Global Seal of acceptance' from the WCO (World Council of Optometry) for the special components that block out the sun's rays.
'Sight is a valuable asset for everyone, and everyone has the duty and responsibility to protect it - comments Alessandro Borzino, Mediterranean Business Director of Transitions Optical 'Transitions promotes international protection and prevention campaigns, together with private and public institutions. This is why we are enthusiastic to be a part of Federottica's initiative. We hope that with the messages given by "Bimbovisione''s opticians-optometrists to educators and parents, we shall be able to make a real contribution to families, helping them to offer better protection for their children's visual wellbeing and be more aware of that invaluable asset, which is public health'.
