Sunglasses and cataracts

[Ilikethebreeze]

My optician [normal company that I use, but optician from a different town, so not my normal optician], said to use sunglasses when out in the sunshine, because of cataracts.
He said that skin wrinkles in the sun, and eyes get cataracts the more exposure to the sun that they get.

I havent got cataracts now, but my mum has.
So I bought some presciption sunglasses.

I have not heard about all this before.
So, is the optician right?

Yes. Ultraviolet in sun light can slowly cause cataract (lens aging) as well as skin ageing etc. If you wear sunglasses make sure they have a good UV filter not just a tint. Many contact lenses now have UV filters. People who live in sunnier parts of the world and live or work out of doors tend to get cataract younger than those less exposed to sunshine. UV protection is a sensible precaution.

Thanks for that.
Has that always been known? I cant quite understand why I have not heard of it before. Why wouldnt an optician have mentioned it before?

It's been known for a very long time.

Thanks. Thats me told
But I will pass it on anyway to people I know in rl, because I dont think many of them know it.

I think public awareness of UV dangers is higher in Australia and the southern hemisphere, and amongst those that travel, ski or work outside.

Yes, the optician talked about Australia. He said they have a thinning ozone layer over there, and many many people in their 40's are getting cataracts. So many, that there may not be enough surgeons soon to do all the operations needed.
Because I hadnt even heard of it before, I did wonder whether he was being alarmist at least. But, on balance, I assumed he was talking correctly.

I'm afraid I've also known about it for years and years!

I have known about it as well. I have very photo sensitive eyes and can't tolerate bright light, so I wear sunglasses whenever the sun comes out.

I appear to be the only one in the universe [apart from my DH] who didnt know !

I am actually pretty sure some of my family members dont know also, as one of them has cataracts and never worn sunglasses. She is quite health conccious, and I am pretty sure she would have got some sunglasses if she had known. That is the bit that makes me a bit sad actually, and also that I have gone all these years, possibly doing some damage to my own eyes.
They are fine at the moment, and I am not in the sun any more than many other people, but I am glad I now know. [though looks like this thread is useless to anyone else!]

Ilikethebreeze...I did not know this till 2 weeks ago either !!!!

Took my dad for an appointment ..he was told he has got a cateract and to wear a wide brim hat and sunglasses !! (that will be fun to make him do )

I don't think it is generally that well know in the UK although I did see a leaflet about it at my last eye exam. In Australia (where the risk as you've pointed out is higher because of the holes in the ozone) there have been public information campaigns to wear hats/ sunscreen, tee shirts on the beach and sunnies ( I used to live there). In the UK its been much more low key with the emphasis on sun protection (clothes/sunscreen lotion) to reduce the risk of skin cancers and wrinkles. The important part of sunglasses is the UV filter rather than the sunglass tint themselves. I know my clear specs have a UV filter (although not to the same standard as my sunspecs) so I only personally use the all singing all dancing UV sunspecs (with nose and side shields) in the mountains and overseas where there is higher risk and its brighter.

bizzey, good luck with that!

magso. Yes I ended up ordering uv protection ones? I dont think I got offered any choice of nose and side shields, but I am not out in it huge amounts.

I just wish I had heard about it all earlier. No idea why it all passed my family by!