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Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do fake designer sunglasses protect your eyes?

   Fake designer sunglasses often provide no protection against dangerous UV rays and could mean putting yourself at risk of developing serious eye conditions, such as cataract and macular degeneration which can lead to sight loss. Children are particularly susceptible to UV rays and should have their eyes protected even in lower UV conditions.
   
   You don’t need to buy expensive sunglasses to get the necessary protection. A budget pair of sunglasses from a reputable high street shop can offer as much UV protection as a designer brand. Your local optometry practice is also a great place to go if you need advice on the health of your eyes, and to find the perfect pair of fitted sunglasses.
   
   To make sure you have the necessary protection for your eyes, purchase sunglasses that have the UV mark, either the British Standard (BS EN ISO 12312-1:2013), CE or UKCA mark.
   
   Read more about summer eye health
   

2. What are floaters?

   Floaters are small dark or transparent dots or strands or something that looks like a hair or small pieces of a cobweb that float in the vitreous gel inside your eye. They are formed when the vitreous, which is the jelly inside your eye, separates into watery fluid and wavy collagen fibres. They appear to float in front of your eyes and move when you try to look at them. They are very common and are normally harmless.
   
   Read more about floaters.

3. What is long-sightedness (hyperopia)?

   Normally, light is focussed by the cornea and lens to form a sharp image on the retina. Long-sightedness occurs when the eyeball is slightly too short so that the focus point is behind the retina at the back of the eye. If you are long-sighted, you find it more difficult to see clearly objects that are close to you. For example, words on a page or your phone screen may seem blurred.
   
   Read more about long-sightedness.