Summer and UV rays: how can we protect our eyes?
On this first day of summer, Commissione Difesa Vista organized a meeting in Rome to inform people about potential risks when eyes are not adequately protected from the sun’s rays.
In the same way as we protect our skin, we must also safeguard the health of our eyes. The most damaging parts of the sun’s rays are the so-called “high-energy photons”, which threaten the uppermost parts of the eyes – the cornea, conjunctiva and crystalline lens. The visible “violet and blue” and “UVA” rays that are not completely absorbed by the anterior structures can also harm the retina. Conjunctivitis and keratitis are the immediate and most obvious reactions, but a lack of protection can also cause long-term damage and lead to much more serious disorders such as cataract and macular degeneration. And it is totally mistaken to think that this is “a matter for adults and the elderly”. Anything but.
What can we do to adequately protect ourselves?
To adequately protect ourselves it is sufficient to wear quality sunglasses with CE certification. Quality means the certainty that the lenses meet the standards established by the European Union for guaranteeing correct eye protection. A way of having this certainty is to buy sunglasses from official channels (optical stores).
Research carried out by the Istituto Piepoli on a sample of 1,019 adult Italians of both sexes (C.A.T.I. method) showed that, compared to 2007, there has been an increase in the purchase of sunglasses from outlets other than optical stores, with particular growth in sports stores, supermarkets and, unfortunately, street stalls. There is still a lot to be done to convince Italians not to buy uncertified eyeglasses, which have low-quality lenses that instead of giving protection can even cause lesions. However, the survey also showed fairly high awareness that counterfeit eyeglasses can damage the eyes (83% in 2010). When it comes to children, the awareness about “serious” eyeglasses increases: from 73% in 2007 to 75% in 2010, corresponding to a “No” to the question about buying sunglasses for children from street stalls. The crystalline lens that allows the eye to focus continues to develop up to the age of 12 and therefore it is at greater risk from the harmful effects of UV rays.
When buying sunglasses, the quality of the lenses is still the first point of reference, followed by price, aesthetics and brand. 15% of interviewees wear them always, 37% often, 22% never. Only 17% own various pairs depending on function: 83% wear the same sunglasses on the beach, in the snow, on a boat and in the city. Awareness that attention must also be paid to different functions is still fairly marginal.
Attention to lenses! “Protecting the eyes from the sun’s rays with a pair of quality sunglasses must become as much of a habit as using a sun block on the skin” – explained Vittorio Tabacchi. “Attention to the quality of the lenses is essential for ensuring that sunglasses perform the important function of protection. Moreover, not all lenses are suitable for all environments and activities and only at a specialist store we can find the expertise for helping us to choose the product that is right for us.”
