Photo courtesy of Sandy Scheltema/The Age

Sun poses risk to children's eyesight

    - Dr Andreas Mueller  The Foundation's
Dr Andreas Mueller

 The Fred Hollows Foundation's Dr Andreas Mueller and the Director of the Centre for Eye Research Australia, Professor Hugh Taylor, have published a study in the international bi-annual ophthalmic magazine, Points de Vue, examining the risk that sun exposure presents to eyesight, particularly among children.

The study states that children worldwide are not adequately able to protect their eyes from UV overexposure. The analysis also points out that existing studies show people with dark skin are not protected against damage to the eye from UV radiation, contrary to popular belief.

Dr Mueller and Professor Taylor highlight the important role of education, and the provision of quality sunglasses, in reducing the risk of long-term damage.

Close-fitting wrap-around frames are recommended and glasses should have an official rating that indicates they absorb 99% to 100% of the UV-A and B rays.

Dr Mueller points out that the thinning of the ozone layer is recognised as a global health threat that is projected to increase UV overexposure related problems and that children in developing countries face an equal, if not increased, risk from the sun.

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