Boots Opticians Looks Out For Britain’s Eye Health This Summer

With summer very nearly upon us and the temperature slowly rising, people across Britain are going to be pulling out their favourite pair of sunglasses as they get out and enjoy the warmer weather. However, most people don’t know just how important it is to protect their eyes from the sun’s harmful rays so Boots Optician’s Russell Peake has compiled some tip tips on how to keep eyes safe this summer.

Russell Peake, Optometrist at Boots Opticians said: “People are very aware of the dangers the sun’s rays can have on their skin, but eye safety can sometimes get forgotten. This summer, we want to make protecting your eyes as simple as possible so you can enjoy the sunshine whilst it lasts. Hidden dangers can be easily avoided with the right protection and there are some very simple ways to keep your eyes happy and healthy all summer long!”

Russell says:

1)      Smart Phones need Smart Sunglasses…

“UV rays bounce off the glass screens of smartphones or tablets and while the surface may be small, holding it close to your eyes increases your exposure to this reflection.  So make sure you are wearing sunglasses with 100% UV protection such as Jigsaw Women’s Tortoise Shell Sunglasses when you’re browsing your social media on the sun-lounger to keep you safe.  Giving your phone a rest while you sunbathe?  Remember that sand and grass reflect UV too so you’ll still need those sunnies!”

2)     Don’t Scrimp on Your Shades:

“Although it can be tempting to ‘risk it’ and pick up a pair of cheap sunglasses when on holiday abroad, it’s important to know the facts before you hand over the money. You can’t see it, but all sunglasses from Boots Opticians (both prescription and non-prescription) have filters that enable them to give 100% protection from damaging UVA and UVB rays. With this, you can rest easy that you’re getting excellent protection from the sun. There’s such a variety of styles and frames that are available, including Kyusu Men’s Sunglasses (£130 prescription, £50.00 non-prescription) you’ll be spoilt for choice. If sunglasses are not bought from a specialist optician, there is less certainty that the lenses are giving you the protection that your eyes vitally need.”

3)     It’s Not All About the Sun

“UV is found in the invisible part of the spectrum so we can’t see or feel it. It is not just when the sun is bright that your eyes need UV protection. What many people do not know is that cloud cover may only reduce the amount of UV light by 10%. Even when you are not facing direct sunlight, UV light can reflect towards your eyes from surfaces such as white buildings, wet surfaces and smart phones. So make sure you’re protecting your eyes even on cloudy days, Boots Women’s Sunglasses in Tortoise Shell (£110.00 prescription, £30 non-prescription) provide immediate protection from the sun and harmful UV rays.”

4)     Don’t Forget the Kids

“Up to 80% of your eyes lifetime exposure to UV light is reached before the age of 18*, which makes UV protection particularly important in childhood. Children’s eyes have larger pupils so when spending time outdoors they are more exposed to potential sun damage, therefore introducing good habits such as wearing sunglasses at a young age is key. There’s so many stylish options for them to choose from, including Boots Kids Sunglasses Pink (£40.00 prescription, £10.00 non-prescription) . Remember to check your child’s sunglasses have adequate UV protection- toy sunglasses are unlikely to filter UV light and the dark lenses may cause the pupil to dilate allowing more UV light to enter eye.”

                                             

Notes to editors:

*Further information on UV and eye health myths can be found at http://www.boots.com/en/UV-protection-myth-busters_1462220/

All additional pairs ½ price

At Boots Opticians, when you buy any pair of glasses or prescription sunglasses you can get all additional pairs ½ price. Cheapest pairs are half price and all pairs must be bought for the same customer in the same transaction.

About Boots Opticians

Boots Opticians is one of the leading opticians in the UK with around 600* practices of which around 180* operate on a franchise basis. Of these, 420* are standalone practices and 180* are in Boots stores.

In August 2013, Boots Opticians became the first multiple optician in the UK to include digital retinal photography as a standard element of its eye test for customers of all ages.

De Rigo, a world leader in the design, production and distribution of high-end eyewear and sunwear, owns a 42% minority interest in Boots Opticians which it obtained in 2009 after Boots Opticians merged with Dollond & Aitchison to create the second largest optical chain in the UK.