Children are more at risk from damaging UV rays because the lens on their eyes are thinner, allowing more of the damaging rays to reach the retina at the back of the eye. Most of us acquire nearly 80% of our lifetime ultraviolet exposure before the age of 18. Since active children are likely to spend a lot of their time outdoors in the summer it is vitally important that we take steps to safeguard their eyes from the sun.

There has been a lot of public awareness concerning the cumulative effect of UV damage and its link to skin cancer. The same cumulative damage from UV rays can result in permanent damage to the eyes.  Cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye damage to the retina can occur from cumulative exposure to the sun. Just as the cumulative damage from UV rays can surface years later as skin cancer, UV rays are also responsible for long term damage to the eyes leading to premature loss of vision and macular degeneration in later years.

Most parents are aware of the critical need to protect their children’s skin from UV exposure, yet few insist their children wear sunglasses. Nearly a third of parents in Britain do not buy their children sunglasses. Of those who do, nearly half put price before protection and only a quarter buy sunglasses from a trusted brand. Wearing cheap sunglasses with no UV filters poses an even greater danger than wearing none at all because the pupils will dilate allowing more harmful rays into the eye.

People with light coloured eyes are most at risk from sun damage and those with blue eyes should always wear sunglasses.

 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.

Come in and check out our amazing new Kids Sunglass range and be sure to take care of your child’s eyes this summer.

The optomap ultra-wide digital retinal scan helps you and your optometrist make informed decisions about your eye health and overall well-being.

What is your retina? The retina is the delicate lining at the back of the eye and is like the film in a camera. It receives light through the lens in your eye and produces a picture which is then sent to the brain, enabling you to see.

Why is the retina important? It is important to make sure that your retina is healthy. An unhealthy retina cannot send clear signals and this can result in impaired vision or blindness. If detected early, most retinal conditions and other diseases can be treated successfully.

Although you may see clearly, it is still important to have your retina checked. The retina has no nerve endings and may not feel pain so there may be a problem that you are not aware of.

What can happen to the retina? Your retina is the only place in the body where blood vessels can be seen directly. This means that in addition to eye conditions, signs of other diseases (for example, stroke, heart disease, hypertension and diabetes) can also be seen in the retina. Early detection is essential so that successful treatments can be administered.

How does your optometrist normally examine the retina? Examining the retina is challenging. Your optometrist looks through your pupil to examine a layer of tissue that covers the back and inside walls of your eye. Traditional viewing methods can be effective, but difficult to perform. They are also carried out manually without any digital record.

How does the Optomap help? The Optomap ultra-wide digital retinal scan captures more than 80% of your retina in one panoramic image. Traditional methods typically reveal only 10-12% of your retina at one time.

More than 24 million Optomaps have been performed worldwide since its introduction in 2000.

Call to book your personal image review today.

Tel: 02074054875 

Email info@cityopticians.co.uk

We provide a personalised and complete high quality service and offer one of the widest ranges of frames in the UK. If you are looking for 2 for 1 offers of with inferior products then look elsewhere, but if you are looking for super quality then you are definitely in the right place.