Sunglasses survey has glaring findings

Alexandria, VA-The hazards to the eyes of ultraviolet (UV) radiation are well known to eye-care professionals, but it’s possible they're not conveying the need for UV protection strongly enough to their patients.

As a part of its “Bureau of Missing Sunglasses” initiative, The Vision Council polled 10,000 adults from across the United States about their knowledge and use of sunglasses. Among the findings:

• More than 55% of adults in the United States lose or break sunglasses every year.

• Nearly half of respondents said they don’t use sunglasses because they forget.

• Barely one in six respondents cited health dangers as a reason for wearing sunglasses.

• Twenty percent reported that they believe they are not at risk from sun exposure.

• More than 10% said they don’t use any protection on eyes or skin from the sun.

• Although 73% of respondents use sunglasses, only 58% have their children wear sunglasses.

• The car ranks as the top place where respondents lose their sunglasses.

A new report from The Vision Council, “Finding Your Shades, Protecting Your Vision,” highlights the U.S. cities with the greatest UV risk and offers insights into Americans' vision protection behaviors. For more information, visit www.missingsunglasses.com.

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