Poll indicates UK parents may be risking children’s eyesight by ignoring sun’s UV danger.

BBC News (8/18) reports that, according to a “poll of 2,000 people” conducted on behalf of the UK’s College of Optometrists, “three in four parents” in Britain “are risking their child’s eyesight by exposing them to bright sun without appropriate protection,” and “nearly a third of parents…do not buy their children sunglasses.” Of the parents who do purchase sunglasses, almost “half put price before protection, and only a quarter buy sunglasses from a trusted brand.” Optometrist Dr. Susan Blakeney, of the College of Optometrists, explained that “sunglasses don’t need to be expensive to offer good protection, but it is important for parents to check that the pair they buy carry a CE Mark,” which certifies that the product has met Economic Union health, safety, and environmental requirements. BBC News adds that “UV rays from sunlight can damage the retina and the lens of the eye and can lead to long-term damage.”