The danger of vision loss from counterfeit sunglasses

Stating that counterfeit sunglasses cause cataracts in the eyes, Ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Lütfi Seyrek noted that the development of cataracts can progress to vision impairment and even vision loss.

Experts, who state that counterfeit sunglasses, whose material and chemical content are unknown, cause permanent damage to eye health, recommend that such sunglasses should not be used.

''THE SUNGLASSES YOU BUY MUST...''

Stating that the sun's rays are felt more intensely with the arrival of summer, Ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Lütfi Seyrek said, "There are certain features to pay attention to when buying sunglasses. The sunglasses we buy must definitely come from an optician. In particular, there can be counterfeit sunglasses sold in clothing stores or at street vendors, which we call 'işporta'. To avoid falling into such situations, we must first buy sunglasses from an optician. We should pay attention to two basic features when buying sunglasses. The first feature should be Ultraviolet 400 protection; we must specify this to the optician. The second is that it must have a CE certificate. The importance of this certificate is that it means the lenses are produced according to European standards. We can definitely ask the optician for the certificate of the sunglasses we are going to buy and shop accordingly."

''THE COLOR OF THE SUNGLASSES DOES NOT MATTER IN TERMS OF PROTECTION''

Expressing that the question of what color to choose and what preferences to make is frequently asked when buying sunglasses, Op. Dr. Lütfi Seyrek said, "The color of the sunglasses does not matter in terms of protection. Brown, black, gray, or green, they all protect the eyes as long as they have UV 400 protection. Only the patients' visual quality and contrast sensitivity may change. But they will all block harmful rays coming to the eye. Polarized sunglasses reduce sun reflections more and provide visual comfort, but a non-polarized pair of sunglasses will also protect you sufficiently from the sun if it contains UV 400 protection."

''WHEN WE WEAR COUNTERFEIT SUNGLASSES...''

Stating that counterfeit sunglasses have no protection against sunlight or UV rays, Ophthalmologist Op. Dr. Lütfi Seyrek said, "Even if we don't wear glasses at all, our eyes naturally shrink our pupils when we go out into the sun as a natural mechanism and try to protect us from harmful rays. But when we wear counterfeit sunglasses, our pupils dilate because they darken the surroundings, and more sunlight enters our eyes. Since they lack protective features, this causes various damages. It can increase the progression of cataracts and macular degeneration. It can create light reactions on the surface of the eye, which we call the cornea, and cause redness and wounds. Therefore, instead of buying a counterfeit or unsuitable pair of sunglasses, it would be a better option not to buy or use them at all."

''CAN CAUSE VISION LOSS''

Stating that counterfeit sunglasses can lead to the development of cataracts, Op. Dr. Lütfi Seyrek said, "It causes cataract development and vision impairment. Although we may not call it total blindness, it can cause vision loss. Especially in elderly patients, it can accelerate the progression of macular degeneration, a disease that causes vision loss. Furthermore, since they lack protection on the surface of the eye, the light hitting the surface can cause wounds, leading to blurred vision and reduced vision. For this reason, we must use high-quality sunglasses purchased from an optician. We must absolutely not use counterfeit sunglasses."

''LOW-QUALITY LENSES LEAVE THE EYE UNPROTECTED''

Optician İbrahim Acaz, who has been in the eyewear industry for many years, also said that the quality of the lenses is very important when buying sunglasses and that they should protect eye health. Stating that glasses must be purchased from an optician, İbrahim Acaz said, "All opticians buy original glasses. They buy glasses with certificates and warranties. Products sold outside or in different places like clothing stores are usually uncertified. The models of the products are nice, but the lenses are of poor quality. Low-quality lenses leave the eye unprotected."