As our skies are often grey, it’s easy to think that we don’t necessarily need to wear sunglasses in the UK. We might pop them on for a long drive, for skiing or other holidays abroad, but few of us think to wear them out and about in our country. You do however need to be aware that every single day, whatever the time of year or apparent conditions, you might be exposed to the dangers of UV.

As UV is part of the invisible light spectrum, we can’t tell if we’re in danger from it. UVA and UVB are the most damaging rays, and they can build up over our lifetime to cause progressive damage to the eyes. This can lead to Cataracts and Macular Degeneration. The latter cannot be treated at present, and leads to loss of central vision in old age.

So there are serous medical issues that can arise from not protecting the eyes, and there are cosmetic ones too. Premature skin ageing, the formation of uneven pigment and wrinkles can all be attributed to UV exposure. There is also the issue of skin cancer in the delicate tissues around the eye area.

Children are also at risk, and the fairer your skin and lighter your eyes the less natural protection you have. Get kids fitted with good quality sunglasses, looking for the label that states full blocking of UVA and UVB. You wouldn’t let the kids out without sunscreen – over 90% of parents report that they insist their children wear it – so don’t expose their eyes to equal harm. More than 50% of parents say that they send their children out without sunglasses, even on bright days.

If you’re outside for most of the day, wear tinted specs, or if you really prefer clear lenses, you can have a UV layer added. Photochromic lenses, which change with the light, usually have UV screening built in.