Most people are aware that fair skin can be more vulnerable to skin cancer. However, did you know that light coloured eyes are more vulnerable to UV-related eye disease?

The Irish College of Ophthalmologists (ICO) is appealing to people to ‘shop smart' when purchasing sunglasses by only opting for those with the CE Mark (European safety standard) guarantee.

"Just as fair skin can be more vulnerable to skin cancers, studies have shown that those of us with lighter coloured eyes are more susceptible to ultra violet (UV) damage from the sun and can be at greater risk of developing eye diseases such as cataract in later life as a result," said Dr Patricia Quinlan.

She made her comments at the ICO annual conference in Limerick this week.

She believes that while many people are aware of the dangers of sun when it comes to their skin, ‘we have a way to go yet in educating people on the risks of UV damage to our eye health'.

"You wouldn't buy a sun cream that didn't have a sun factor in it so why buy shades that haven't got the essential UV protection that the CE Mark guarantees. While people with eyes of any colour can develop UV-related eye diseases, light eyes and sun exposure are associated with an increased risk of eye damage," she said.

During the summer months, UV levels are at least three times higher than they are in winter. The ICO is appealing to people to wear sunglasses that are considered 100% UV safe.

The college is also reminding parents of the importance of taking care of their children's eyes.

"I see a lot of high street stores selling cute little styles aimed at young children for the summer months, but parents need to look for the CE Mark. As cute as the glasses are and we all like to wear fashionable shades, unfortunately without the UV factor protection the CE mark guarantees, there is no eye health benefit to children wearing the lenses," Dr Quinlan pointed out.

She is encouraging parents to get their children used to wearing sunglasses from an early age, as this is ‘one of the easiest and the most important things children and adults can do to protect their eye health'.

"The message from eye doctors is that, just as you would apply sun factor to protect your skin in the sun, wearing sunglasses with 100% UV block will help to protect your eyes in the long-term," Dr Quinlan added.

The ICO offers the following tips to help protect the eyes:

-Choose sunglasses with the CE Mark that block 100% of UV rays. Do not assume that because the lenses are dark, they offer more protection
-Choose close-fitting wraparound glasses as these protect eyes from all angles
-Wear sunglasses throughout the year even if it is cloudy, but especially during the summer
-Wear a wide-brim hat with your sunglasses for extra protection
-Some medications can cause increased sensitivity to sunlight, so take extra precautions if necessary
-Remember that the sun's rays can be reflected off water, sand or the pavement
-While contact lenses offer UV protection, they cannot protect the entire eye, so still wear sunglasses.

For more information on eye health, see our Eye Clinic here