Nearly a third of parents in Britain do not buy their children sunglasses
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Experts warn three in four parents are risking their child’s eyesight by exposing them to bright sun without appropriate protection
Nearly a third of parents in Britain do not buy their children in sunglasses, and of those who do, nearly half said they put price before the level of protection.
The poll of 2000 people carried out by the College of Optometrists also revealed only a quarter buy sunglasses from a trusted brand.
The College recommends buying children dark glasses with a CE mark for quality.
People with light coloured eyes are most at risk from sun damage and those with blue eyes should always sunglasses.
UV rays can damage the retina and the lens of the eye and can lead to long-term damage.
Wearing cheap sunglasses with no filters is even worse than wearing no sunglasses at all because the pupils will dilate allowing more harmful rays into the eye.
Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric advisor at the College of Optometrists says ‘I am shocked to see that so many parents aren’t ensuring that their child’s eyes are protected in the sun, and am equally astounded to see that of those who do, many are opting for ‘cheap and cheerful’ over quality. Sunglasses don’t need to be expensive to offer good protection but it is important for parents to check that the pair they buy carry a CE mark.’
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