Sunbed eye protection – yes it is essential!
Did you know that only 22% of adults worry about the effects of UV on their eyes, despite UV being much more damaging to eyes than to skin? (1) Sunbed eye protection is essential, and must be used during every tanning session. However, this is not something that all tanners understand. It is a salon's responsibility to promote and provide this to clients. However, it is still a client’s responsibility to use the protection supplied. With this in mind, more education must be provided to clients in person and on socials to encourage regular use of eye protection. We have compiled some of the most important facts about eye protection to ensure you know your stuff about eye protection and tanning.
Why wear eye protection?
Sunbed eye protection is a must for every tanning session. It can take only a single tanning session to damage a tanner’s eyesight, therefore it must be protected as best as possible. In the same way that looking into the sun can negatively impact your vision in both the long and short term, this is the same for sunbeds. It is not worth the risk.
The impact not wearing eye protection can have:
Short-term impact:
Photokeratitis
Sometimes compared to sunburn, this is a painful temporary eye condition caused by exposure to UV. This affects your corneas and conjunctiva, temporarily damaging them. This can cause: Pain or redness in the eyes, tearing/watery eyes, blurry vision, swelling, light sensitivity, twitching of the eyelids, gritty sensation in the eyes, a temporary loss of vision or seeing halos, headaches, and colour changes in your vision. These symptoms can last from 6 to 24 hours, and are usually gone within 48 hours. However, this depends on the time spent exposed to UV without protection. (2)
Pterygium
Also known as "surfer’s eye", this is a pink, non-cancerous growth that forms over the white of your eye. UV is considered a cause for the development of these growths. Although this is initially a short-term issue, the growths must be removed before they grow over the cornea. This could otherwise scar your cornea, leading to long-term health problems.
Long-term impact:
Solar retinopathy
Similar to photokeratitis, but for those who have severely overexposed. Serious overexposure risks burning your retina and causing more long-lasting damage. Although this damage is painless, it can cause permanent damage, destroying light-sensing cells and worsening your vision.
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the eye natural lens (the part of the eye that focuses the light we see). UV light, especially UV-B rays, increases your risk for certain types of cataracts. It is estimated 10% of all cataract cases are directly related to UV exposure. These can take years to develop.
Macular degeneration
This is caused by damage to the retina over time and can be considered one of the leading causes of age-related blindness. Extended periods spent exposed to UV increases this likelihood.
Eye cancers
In the way that overexposure and burning can cause long-term skin damage, this is the same for your vision. Leaving eyes unprotected when tanning increases the risk of long-term damage.
FAQs and how to answer them
“Can you use a sunbed without goggles?”
Simply put, no! Although many tanners do this, there is lacking understanding of the short and long-term implications on your vision. Clients must wear eye protection during every single tanning session. It is a salon’s responsibility to stock this for customers however, it is a tanner’s responsibility to wear this. Therefore, we strongly encourage salons to make clients aware of the necessity both in-salon and via their marketing to further their understanding of the implications not using it can have.
“If I close my eyes, does that provide enough protection?”
We hear this question so often, so we are sure you do too, and to put it bluntly, again, no! Your eyelids only provide the equivalent of SPF 5 protection. This is not enough to responsibly care for your vision, and only blocks a maximum of 25% of UV. Covering your face with a t-shirt or towel is also not enough, as these do not protect against UV.
"Can you wear sunglasses on a sunbed?"
Although sunglasses are great for using outdoors to care for vision, Winkease says “no” to sunglasses on a sunbed, as ambient light comes in the side of the glasses. Unlike the sun, when tanning UV fully surrounds you in a 360-degree tube. This means that your eyes need protection not just from the front, but from the sides too. Although better than using nothing, sunglasses should not replace specially designed eye protection.
"Can you see through sunbed goggles?"
Yes, although vision can be limited due to the nature of eye protection guarding against UV, you will still be able to see what you are doing, just not as clearly as without protection.
"What about my eyelash extensions?"
Although we understand that eyelash extensions can make eye protection difficult to navigate without damaging them, there is now specially designed sunbed eye protection for longer-lashed clients, such as WinkEase Lash Room.
"But what about tan lines?"
Did you know that your delicate eye area doesn't have the ability to tan? This lacks in melanin, meaning that by using ergonomically designed sunbed goggles, there is very little risk of getting facial tan lines, unlike with sunglasses. Goggle are designed to fit just over the delicate eye area to protect vision without compromising your look.
