While many will be enjoying the spring sunshine, experts have cautioned 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 against glare on sunny days, but can also shield them from harmful ultraviolet (UV) light.
That’s important because UV rays have been linked to a number of eye conditions. In the short term, for example, they can cause a temporary but painful condition called photokeratitis – essentially a “sunburn” on the cornea, which sits at the front of the eye.
In the longer term, UV exposure is associated with the development of early-onset cataracts, non-cancerous growths on the cornea known as pterygia, some types of eyelid cancer, and potentially even age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to sight loss.
However, experts have warned wearing fake designer sunglasses could be worse for your eyes than going without as they often lack crucial UV filters.
Alex Day, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields eye hospital, said: “When you buy fake sunglasses, you are gambling with your sight. Counterfeit eyewear is uniquely dangerous because it usually features dark-tinted lenses with absolutely zero UV protection. From a medical perspective, wearing them is actually significantly worse than wearing no sunglasses at all.”
The problem, Day noted, is dark sunglasses cause the pupils to dilate – similar to when you step into a dark room. But without UV filters this means a large dose of harmful UV radiation can enter the eye.
James Wolffsohn, a professor of optometry at Aston University, also stressed the importance of sunglasses having UV filters.
“If you get bright light in your eyes and you’re not wearing sunglasses, you’ll naturally not only cut down your pupil size, but you’ll squint. You might tip your head a little bit so the brows are blocking the light – we have lots of natural protection to UV,” he said. “But, obviously, if you’ve got sunglasses on, you’re not going to feel those effects, and your pupils will be bigger as well.”
According to a recent report from the Intellectual Property Office, sunglasses are a popular type of counterfeit accessory in the UK. Those purporting to be from designers including Chanel, Ray-Ban and Prada were among a £38,000 haul seized at the Appleby horse fair last June, while counterfeit sunglasses were also found among a £6m stash of fake goods seized in Rochdale in May.
Opticians say poor-quality packaging, flimsy hinges, errors in the logo, spelling or font, cases made of cheap materials and a lack of branded high-quality cleaning cloth are other elements that point to fake designer sunglasses – as well as a cheap price.
Experts added the best way to ensure sunglasses have appropriate UV protection was to look for a CE, UV400 or UKCA mark, and to take care not to confuse “polarised lenses”, which help to reduce glare, with UV protection.
Dr Paramdeep Bilkhu, a clinical adviser at the College of Optometrists, said it was a myth that the darker the tint, the better the protection offered by sunglasses.
“It’s not about the depth of the tint, it’s whether or not [a pair of sunglasses] carries that mark,” he said.
Bilkhu advised people to buy sunglasses, particularly prescription ones, from a local optometrist practice, noting that, as well as being reputable sellers, they can ensure sunglasses fit properly and offer advice on style.
Alternatively, he suggested sunglasses could be bought from outlets such as well-known department stores, which offer sunglasses with appropriate safety marks.
Bilkhu recommended people keep an eye on the UV index – often shown on weather apps – to know when to wear their sunglasses, adding they are not just for summer but can be important in the winter too, when the sun bounces off snow and ice.
“If the UV index is 3 and above, that is the time to wear sun UV protection, and that is the time to wear your sunglasses,” he said.
“It doesn’t matter if the conditions are overcast – make sure you’re still wearing them.”