Mayor sports shades to raise eye care awareness

9:24am Monday 30th June 2008

Bexley's mayor, Councillor Nick O'Hare, and his wife Maria, the mayoress, wore sunglasses to support the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association's Shades Day on June 20.

The event aimed to raise funds for the charity, as well as promote awareness of the damaging effects prolonged exposure to sunlight can have upon your eyesight.

Cllr O'Hare said: "Shades Day is a fantastic way to raise money for Guide Dogs and to highlight the importance of wearing your sunglasses."

The association's director of external affairs, Tom Pey, said: "Educating people in how to protect their sight is important and one simple way to keep eyes healthy is to wear your sunglasses.

"If you are outside and the light is so bright you have to squint or turn your head away, then you know you have to put on your shades."

Experts recommend wrap-around sunglasses for maximum protection, with yellowish or amber lenses to cut out the most damaging UV rays.

They also advise buying sunglasses marked with the CE symbol, which means they conform to European safety standards.