Latest news with #Optometry
BBC News
a day ago
- Health
- BBC News
Sunny weather: Do more expensive sunglasses give more protection?
We all know how the sun can age our skin, but experts warn it can also damage our or UV, light can lead to a number of conditions that can affect vision, such as cataracts. Our eyes can even get avoid eye damage, optometrists say we need to properly protect our eyes when out in the sun, but the good news is that we do not need expensive sunglasses for the protection we need. Dr Malgorzata Rozanoswka, from Cardiff University's School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, said adequate protection was required, including "proper sunglasses", sun cream with high sun protection factor (SPF) and wide brimmed hats."When you are on the beach, there is the reflection of the UV from water, from sand. It could be quite high," she added people hiking or climbing mountains needed more protection because "the higher the altitude, then the higher UV". How can UV damage our eyes? Starting outside the eye, our eyelids are at risk from exposure to the sun, because they are not somewhere we often think about applying skin is also susceptible to UV-associated cancers, much like the rest of our body, including melanoma. Inside our eyes, short-term exposure to UV can lead to photokeratitis, which is like sunburn that affects the cornea, rather than the skin. This painful condition is also known as "snow blindness" and can affect skiers and climbers who spend time at high altitude.A lack of protecting our eyes throughout our lifetime can also lead to deteriorating eyesight, increasing the risk of conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Dr Rozanowska said increased exposure to sunlight could increase the risk of the retina aging prematurely, as well as other parts of the eye."So there is a very well-established association of UV and cataracts, and those cancers of the surface of the eye," she said. "Honestly, just ones that fit my head, because I've got such a small head. But obviously also to protect from UV," said Hattie from Cardiff, speaking from the city's Bute friend Immy, from Buckinghamshire, added: "For me, it's more like fashion. I don't really think about protection."Searching for the right pair of sunglasses requires some some shops you will notice labels with categories from 0 to 4, referring to how dark the lenses are. Category 0 sunglasses let a lot of sunlight through, while category 4 are best for activities in more intense sunshine, such as skiing or hiking in mountains. Category 4 sunglasses block so much visible light that they are not considered safe to drive darker sunglasses do not mean better UV protection, and you cannot tell by looking at the colour of the lenses how much UV protection is offered. Dr Rozanowska recommended looking at the certificate on the frame to see whether sunglasses block UV best to look for is UV400, which blocks 99% of all UV, she said."When buying sunglasses, it's worth getting them from reputable sources and look for those certificates on the frame."Good sunglasses also do not have to cost a lot of money, with some cheaper sunglasses offering as much protection as expensive ones."The lenses are probably made from the same material as the very expensive designer sunglasses, as long as they have the certificate CE or UV 400," Dr Rozanowska those fake designer sunglasses we are tempted to buy from a market stall on holiday may look like a bargain, but they may be offering no protection at all from the sun."Even though they have very dark lenses, they can transmit a lot of UV light and wearing this type of sunglasses with dark lenses, this would make your pupils dilate and more of that UV light would be transmitted to the lens," she sunglasses with no UV protection can actually cause more harm to our eyes. Another thing to consider is that not all sunglasses offer good protection at the side of our eyes - a narrow arm can still allow for UV light to reach our eyes, resulting in eye typically spend a lot of time playing outdoors and their eyes can be more vulnerable to UV damage than adults, said Dr said lenses offered almost no protection from UV, so it was not necessary to force a child to wear sunglasses, instead creating shady areas for play. "So if you are playing on the grass surrounded by trees, there is enough shadow. That reflection from the grass is like 2%, it's almost nothing."It is important for children to play outside without any eye protection. It prevents the development of myopia or short-sightedness."
Free Malaysia Today
2 days ago
- Health
- Free Malaysia Today
Optometry Bill to be tabled in October
Health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad said the Optometry Bill is expected to cover the online sale of optical products, as well as enforcement provisions and penalties to safeguard consumer safety. (Bernama pic) PETALING JAYA : The Optometry Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament this October, said health minister Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the proposed legislation would serve as a dedicated legal framework to regulate all aspects of the optometry profession in Malaysia, Bernama reported. 'It will be a standalone Act governing the practice, training, registration and scope of duties for optometrists, distinct from opticians,' he said. Dzulkefly said the Bill is also expected to cover the online sale of optical products, as well as enforcement provisions and penalties to safeguard consumer safety. 'This legislation is crucial in elevating optometry as a recognised, qualified, safe and effective professional field.' He highlighted the critical role of optometrists in primary healthcare, particularly in the early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma and other retinal conditions. 'Optometrists are not only responsible for managing refractive errors, but also serve as a vital frontline in identifying eye diseases linked to NCDs,' he said. He acknowledged that Malaysia has yet to meet the World Health Organization's recommended ratio of one optometrist per 10,000 people. 'We are currently at a ratio of 1:16,000, which affects the health system's capacity to provide equitable and quality eye care services to the people,' he said, adding that Malaysia produced only about 200 optometrists annually.
Malay Mail
4 days ago
- Health
- Malay Mail
Health Ministry to table Optometry Bill in Oct, targets one optometrist per 16,000 Malaysians amid eye care inequality
PUTRAJAYA, June 17 — The Optometry Bill is expected to be tabled in Parliament this October, said Health Minister Datuk Seri Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad. He said the proposed legislation would serve as a dedicated legal framework to regulate all aspects of the optometry profession in Malaysia. 'It will be a stand-alone Act governing the practice, training, registration and scope of duties for optometrists, distinct from opticians,' he told reporters after launching the Primary Eye Care Service Guidelines for the Optometry Profession today. Dr Dzulkefly added that the Bill is also expected to cover online sales of optical products, as well as enforcement provisions and penalties to safeguard consumer safety. 'This legislation is crucial in elevating optometry as a recognised, qualified, safe and effective professional field,' he said. Dr Dzulkefly highlighted the critical role of optometrists in the primary healthcare system, particularly in the early detection of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as diabetes, hypertension, glaucoma and other retinal conditions. 'Optometrists are not only responsible for managing refractive errors, they also serve as a vital frontline in identifying eye diseases linked to NCDs,' he said. He acknowledged that Malaysia has yet to meet the World Health Organisation's recommended ratio of one optometrist per 10,000 population. 'We are currently at a ratio of 1:16,000, which affects the health system's capacity to provide equitable and quality eye care services to the people,' he said. Dr Dzulkefly also noted that Malaysia produces only about 200 optometrists annually, reflecting the need for a strategic approach to workforce development through expanded training and capacity building. Dr Dzulkefly also expressed concern over the low coverage of regular vision screening and the financial burden of treatment, including cataract surgery and the purchase of corrective lenses, which continues to fall on the majority of Malaysians, particularly those in rural areas. He emphasised the need for a sustainable and progressive financing mechanism to ensure that no one is left behind in accessing quality eye care. On the newly launched Primary Eye Care Service Guidelines, Dr Dzulkefly described it as a strategic step forward, laying a strong foundation for an ethical, evidence-based and safe framework for private optometric practice. He added that the implementation of credentialing and privileging would ensure that only qualified and competent optometrists are entrusted with specific clinical responsibilities. — Bernama
