WCAX.COM Local Vermont News, Weather and Sports-Unprotective Sunglasses?
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New York, New York - June 5, 2009
Sunglasses are supposed to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays, but some don't offer as much protection as they claim.
Lindsey Benoit was shocked when she was recently diagnosed with skin cancer near the bridge of her nose.
"I'm healthy, I work out, I eat right so I didn't think that I would ever end up having cancer," the 27-year-old said.
June D'Amato, 61, said years of sun exposure led to the skin cancer on her eyelid. While both women use sun block, doctors say wearing sunglasses could have protected them from cancer.
"With skin cancer it's your cumulative exposure; the sooner you wear glasses the more protection you're going to have," said Dr. Marc Werner of the Stahl Eye Center on Long Island.
But how well do they protect you?
Many sunglass labels claim "maximum UV protection" and "100 percent UV," but Dr. Werner said no one's checking those claims.
"Even if a sunglass has a sticker on it which says we absorb 100 percent of UV light, it may or may not be true," Dr. Werner said. "The only way to know is through testing."
Using a "photometer", an instrument that measures how much UV gets through, Dr. Werner put those claims to the test.
Not every pair lives up to its claims, especially when bought on the street.
"These are bad, 17 percent of UV goes through it," Werner said.
The bottom line is Dr. Werner advises that you get your sunglasses tested.
"A lot of ophthalmologists will have these machines in their office. It takes two minutes," Werner said.
You also need to choose lenses that are large enough to shield your eyes from all angles. Wrap-around sunglasses protect the best and look for labels stating 99 percent to 100 percent protection from both UVA and UVB light.
"I certainly won't ignore anything from now on," D'Amato said.
Doctors said the lens color does not affect how well a pair of sunglasses will protect your eyes and that less costly brands generally block harmful rays as well as designer labels.
Doctors also said to make sure children always wear sunglasses. They are at special risk from harmful effects of UV rays since their eyes are not as developed as adults.
