Specsavers celebrates International Sunglasses Day

To mark International Sunglasses Day (27 June), Specsavers is encouraging people to pick up a pair of properly rated sunglasses to ensure they are protecting their eyes this summer.

Specsavers stores are also supporting the day through raising money for the Royal National Institute of Blind People's (RNIB) #Shadesforsight campaign, which is aimed at raising awareness of protecting eyes from the sun.

The charity is encouraging people to post a sunglasses selfie on social media along with the hashtag in order to create awareness and spread the message.

Specsavers clinical spokesperson, Dr Nigel Best, explained that while many people are educated about the harmful effects of UV rays on the skin, few are aware of the damage they can cause eyes.

“Our public health message in Macular Week and on International Sunglasses Day is that prolonged exposure of the eyes to UV is linked to cataracts, macular degeneration and even some types of eye cancer,” he said.

He also explained the importance of people checking their sunglasses properly, saying: “We want people to check their cheaper sunglasses to make sure they provide adequate protection – not all do. Check for a CE (European Community Standard), BSEN1836 (British Standard) or UV400 markings and aim for a pair that offer 80% light reduction. Sunglasses don’t need to be expensive but they should always conform to agreed safety standards.”