UK spring sunshine prompts warnings over unsafe fake designer sunglasses | Health

While many will be enjoying the spring sunshine, experts have warned against wearing fake designer sunglasses, warning they could do more harm than good.

As the College of Optometrists notes, sunglasses not only protect the eyes from glare on sunny days, but can also protect them from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.

This is important because UV rays have been linked to a number of eye diseases. In the short term, for example, they can cause a temporary but painful condition called photokeratitis – essentially a “sunburn” on the cornea, located at the front of the eye.

Longer term, UV exposure is associated with the development of early cataracts, noncancerous tumors of the cornea called pterygia, certain types of eyelid cancer, and potentially even age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to vision loss.

However, experts have warned that wearing fake designer sunglasses could be worse for your eyes than going without them, as they often lack essential UV filters.

Alex Day, consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “When you buy fake sunglasses, you are playing with your eyesight. Counterfeit glasses are particularly dangerous because they usually feature dark tinted lenses with absolutely zero UV protection. From a medical point of view, wearing them is actually much worse than not wearing sunglasses at all.”

The problem, Day noted, is that dark sunglasses cause pupils to dilate — like when you walk into a dark room. But without UV filters, this means that a high dose of harmful UV radiation can enter the eye.

James Wolffsohn, professor of optometry at Aston University, also highlighted the importance of sunglasses with UV filters.

“If you have bright light in your eyes and you’re not wearing sunglasses, not only will you naturally reduce the size of your pupils, but you’ll squint. You might tilt your head a little so that the eyebrows block the light – we have a lot of natural UV protection,” he said. “But obviously if you wear sunglasses you won’t feel these effects and your pupils will also be larger.”

Sunglasses are a popular type of counterfeit accessory in the UK, according to a recent report from the Intellectual Property Office. Those claiming to be from designers such as Chanel, Ray-Ban and Prada were part of a £38,000 haul seized at Appleby Horse Fair last June, while counterfeit sunglasses were also found among a £6m stash of counterfeit goods seized in Rochdale in May.

Opticians say poor quality packaging, flimsy hinges, errors in the logo, spelling or font, cases made from cheap materials and the absence of a high-quality branded cleaning cloth are other things that suggest fake branded sunglasses – as well as a cheap price.

Experts added that the best way to ensure sunglasses have appropriate UV protection is to look for CE, UV400 or UKCA marking, and to be careful not to confuse “polarized lenses”, which help reduce glare, with UV protection.

Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, clinical advisor at the College of Optometrists, said it was a myth that the darker the shade, the better protection sunglasses offered.

“It’s not about the depth of the hue, it’s about whether or not [a pair of sunglasses] bears this mark,” he said.

Bilkhu advised people to purchase sunglasses, especially those with prescriptions, from a local optometrist’s office, noting that in addition to being reputable sellers, they can make sure sunglasses fit properly and offer styling advice.

Alternatively, he suggested that sunglasses could be purchased from outlets such as well-known department stores, which carry sunglasses with the appropriate safety markings.

Bilkhu recommends people keep an eye on the UV index — often displayed on weather apps — to know when to wear their sunglasses, adding that they’re not just for summer but can also be important in winter, when the sun bounces off snow and ice.

“If the UV index is three or more, that’s the time to wear UV sun protection, and that’s the time to wear your sunglasses,” he said.

“No matter if the weather is overcast, make sure you always wear them.”