Dark glasses can save eyes
published: Friday | July 2, 2004

THE EDITOR, Sir:

I DISCOVERED a simple fact the hard way not so long ago that could have saved me an eye operation and thousands of dollars.

I had a film growing across the cornea of the eye until it started to affect my vision. A doctor told me I had a condition called pterygium, a word I was hearing for the first time.

This condition I was told is caused by continuous exposure to the ultraviolet rays of the sun and is preventable by the wearing of good dark glasses with a rating of at least 400UV. Tropical climates like ours account for 80 per cent of this condition worldwide.

Contrary to what many people think dark glasses is not only for fashion it could reduce the incidence of pterygium and other eye-related conditions. The Ministry of Health could add this to its public education campaigns to further reduce the strain on the health sector, save eyes and money.

I am, etc.,

MICHAEL SPENCE

micspen2@hotmail.com

Liguanea P.O

Kingston