A poll, of 2,000 adults, found one in four (23%) are more likely to purchase a pair of sunglasses based on looks alone. While 19% admit they don’t know how effective their shades are in protecting them from UV rays.
And 37% are unaware sunglasses had different levels of UV protection, with 66% only caring that they match their outfit. As well as this, only 18% wear sunglasses all year round, despite the risk of sun damage during any season.
Giles Edmonds, clinical services director at Specsavers, which commissioned the research, said: “Long-term sun exposure can cause irreversible damage to your eyesight and can increase the risk of specific eye conditions such as cataracts or age-related macular degeneration, a common cause of blindness.
“The right sunglasses can protect the eyes by filtering UV light from the eyes. However, many people still choose a cosmetic pair over safety, which may cause the pupil to dilate, increasing the amount of UV light filtering into the eyes.”
The study also found 31% are concerned about sun damage if they forget their shades on a sunny day. However, a little over one in 20 (6%) confessed their biggest concern would be adding to the wrinkles around their eyes.
It also emerged half of those polled believe their eyesight has worsened over the last 10 years, with more than one in 10 reporting a significant deterioration. And 39% wish they’d taken better care of their peepers when they were in their younger years.
The research, conducted via OnePoll, also looked at misconceptions surrounding sunglasses – and found 23% believe those with larger lenses provide better protection from UV rays. While 14% think that darker sunglasses always offer better UV protection.
Giles Edmonds from Specsavers, which has addressed some common sunglasses misconceptions, added: “There are a lot of myths around sunglasses and their UV protection.
“For example, the darkness of your sunglasses lenses has nothing to do with UV protection – it only helps to reduce the brightness of light that reaches your eyes.
“There are different lens categories and levels of UV protection to choose from and it can be hard to know which to choose from. So, we recommend speaking with someone at your local store to help you find the best pair for you.”