Anyone who owns sunglasses urged to check the make in official warning

Health authorities have issued an alert to anyone wearing sunglasses. The warning comes as temperatures reach record highs, with the Met Office confirming that a sweltering 35.1°C was logged at Kew Gardens on Tuesday. With further sunshine forecast, the public is being urged to check for UV protection when buying sunglasses. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has recommended that shoppers carry out this check whenever purchasing new eyewear, cautioning that not every design provides adequate protection against harmful UV rays. In a recent post on X, UKHSA said: "Looking good shouldn’t come at the expense of your eye health. Some sunglasses are designed purely for style, so if you want real protection, always check for a UV rating. You can usually find it on the inside arm or as a sticker on the lens." The post continued: "Not all sunglasses offer UV protection. Take a look at their protection before you buy them." The NHS recommends sunglasses with wraparound lenses or wide arms that carry the CE Mark and the British Standard Mark 12312-1:2013 E. Moorfields Private Eye Hospital warns that excessive sun exposure can cause irreversible damage to someone's eyesight. In some cases, it could lead to blindness. Mr Raj Das-Bhaumik, Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon, said: "It’s extremely important to protect your eyes in the sun to reduce the risk of developing cataracts and a common type of skin cancer called basal cell carcinoma. You should buy sunglasses from a reputable retailer and check that they carry the CE mark to ensure that they will protect your eyes from harmful UV rays." Alongside eye protection, safeguarding your skin during warm weather is important, reports the Mirror . As the NHS explains: "Sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer. Sunburn does not just happen on holiday. "You can burn in the UK, even when it's cloudy. There's no safe or healthy way to get a tan. A tan does not protect your skin from the sun's harmful effects." The NHS says to: spend time in the shade between 11am and 3pm never burn cover up with suitable clothing and sunglasses take extra care with children keep babies under six months out of direct sunlight use at least factor 30 sunscreen – make sure to use enough and re-apply frequently The guidance explains: "The sun protection factor, or SPF, is a measure of the amount of ultraviolet B radiation (UVB) protection. SPFs are rated on a scale of two to 50+ based on the level of protection they offer, with 50+ offering the strongest form of UVB protection. "The star rating measures the amount of ultraviolet A radiation (UVA) protection. You should see a star rating of up to five stars on UK sunscreens. The higher the star rating, the better."