It’s not long before many people will be digging out their sunglasses, ready to elevate summer looks. However, while most people wait for the weather to get a little warmer, experts are urging Brits to start wearing sunglasses sooner rather than later. Google search trends have revealed that most people in the UK begin showing interest in sunglasses between May and June, but Claire Hayden, Dispensing Optician at HAYDENSWAN Eyecare, says that’s too late.

The clocks are set to go forward today, meaning the country will not only experience longer daylight hours but also strong UV radiation. Therefore, she urges people to start wearing their sunglasses by today (March 31) in order to avoid potential damage to the eyes.

Claire explained: “When the sun is at a low angle, in winter, its rays have to pass through a thicker layer of the atmosphere, which scatters and absorbs much of the UV radiation. But as the sun climbs higher, as in late March, the rays travel through less atmosphere, meaning more harmful UVB and UVA rays reach the surface.”

This weekend saw the sun reach an altitude of 42 degrees at its peak, which is an increase of 11 degrees since the start of March. According to research from the World Meteorological Organisation and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), the change in altitude would have resulted in a 10 to 15% rise in UV exposure.

Claire added: “The UV index in the UK is already hitting three during midday hours, which is classified as a medium health risk by the Met Office. With longer days ahead, now is the time to get into the habit of wearing sunglasses whenever you’re outdoors. This is especially important between 10 am and 4 pm when UV levels are at their highest.”

The impact of not wearing sunglasses can be very severe. Eyes are ten times more sensitive to the sun’s invisible UV rays than the skin, and sunburned eyes, which is also known as photokeratitis or snow blindness, can leave them feeling “sore and gritty”.

Long-term exposure can also result in cataracts and blurred vision, age-related macular degeneration, which causes your central vision to deteriorate and pinguecula and pterygium, which are growths on the eye’s surface that can lead to vision impairment.

Wearing sunglasses is just as important as wearing sunscreen,” says the optician. “UVA rays penetrate deep into the eye, potentially causing lasting damage to the retina, while UVB rays can burn the cornea itself.”

“Importantly, people with blue, green, or hazel eyes are at higher risk as they have less natural pigment to protect against UV damage,” she noted.