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68 | FireFlyz
Sunglassesareabigfashion
statementbutweoftenforget
thattheyaremeanttoprotect
our eyes.
Fireflyz
speaks to
G.Mohanadasan
, a certified
behavioural optometrist, to
get her opinion on them.
Health
O
ur
eyes are exposed to haz-
ardous ultraviolet (UV) light.
Over time, this may lead
to several eye-related
conditions. Two of
the most common
and severe condi-
tions are cataracts and macular
degeneration. These conditions
are so damaging to the eye that
they can lead to permanent
blindness.
Vision loss
Cataract is when the lens of
the eye becomes progressively
opaque, resulting in blurred
vision. However, macular
degeneration is a common
eye condition and is a leading
cause of vision loss among people
aged 50 and older. It causes damage
to the macula, a small spot near the
center of the retina, the part of the
eye needed for sharp, central vision,
which lets us see objects that are
straight ahead.
Mohanadasan says that it is not easy
to get the message across to people that
the sunglasses one is using are meant for
eye protection, not just as fashion items.
Wearing sunglasses that do not provide
enough UV protection is more harmful than
wearing none. Our pupils constrict in
bright light and dilate in dim light, so
when you wear sunglasses, they dilate. You
are letting more harmful UV light into your
eyes by not wearing a pair of sunglasses
with adequate UV protection.
According to Stephen Dain, Director
of the Optics and Radiometry
laboratory at University of New
South Wales Australia, they test
about 2000 pairs of sunglasses a
year and less than 1% of them
meet the standard.
As consumers, it is our duty
to be more aware. Whenever we
purchase any sunglasses, it is our
duty to check for UV protection
labels. Take note that the sun-
glasses from Petaling Street and
any bazaars or
pasar malams
(night
markets) do not come with adequate
UV protection.
Kids need more protection against
UV compared to adults. As children
generally spend much more time
outdoors than adults, they are more
susceptible to retinal damage from UV
rays because the lens inside a child’s eye
is clearer than an adult lens, enabling
more UV to penetrate deep into the eye.
Be aware when going out and make
sure that you your children have the correct
eyewear on. It is worth it.
A Sight To
Behold