TAKE THREE SUMMER EYEWEAR

WHILST MANY OF US MIGHT CONSIDER sunglasses as a summertime-only essential, more of a fashion statement than a necessity, experts advise we give more thought to eye health. Farah Topia, an optometrist and clinical adviser for the Association of Optometrists, explains: “Just as ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun causes damage and premature ageing in the skin, so UV can also negatively affect the eyes. As well as sunny summer days, people should think about wearing sunglasses on bright days in other seasons and for outdoor sports like hiking at higher altitudes, where there is UV reflection from snow and water.”

It’s UVA and UVB rays that have the potential to cause serious eye problems. Short-term exposure can cause sunburn to the eyes and lead to photokeratitis, where vision is blurred or temporarily lost. Longer-term issues include macular degeneration, cataracts, pterygium