Cheap Sunglasses Cause Cancer

4 years ago Lifestyle

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Every summer it seems, I find myself unable to root out the sunglasses I purchased for an arm and a leg the year prior; a ritual that has over time, moved my style from $120 Ray-Bans to $10 gas station glasses. Imagine my surprise when I found out that this was probably going to kill me, and that nobody was doing anything about it.

As it happens, there are no federal regulations in the U.S. on the amount of UV light that sunglasses have to block, and while many cheap pairs do just fine, many don't, and exploit the lack of sanctions to lie about it.

If a producer of sunglasses is found to be producing a product that they claim blocks 100% of UV rays and it's not, their punishment will be a nasty letter from the FDA. If they wish to avoid even that unpleasantness, they can simply label the accessory as "blocks most UV rays" and it will be subject to no regulation at all.

This is bad for obvious reasons, but also because putting on sunglasses causes your eyes to dilate, letting more light in and in the case of sunglasses not offering UV protection, more UV rays as well.

UV rays cause exactly the same type of damage to your eyes as your skin, causing burns, blindness, and yes, an elevated cancer risk. Australia, home of the highest skin cancer rates in the world and whose massive population lives next to the ozone hole, has strict standards for sunglasses; as does the European Union. Why won't America come along?

[AP]

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Comments

Old Comments

spex2you says

Feb 19th, 2009 at 12am
We prepare our prescription glasses using the same methods, technology and suppliers as those employed by high street opticians. The only thing that is different with our service is that you pay a lot lot less for the same products therefore making them quality cheap glasses online. All orders are handled individually by experienced and skilled technicians. From receipt of your prescription, through every stage of the production process to despatch of your finished cheap glasses, our labs use the latest computer technology to check the accuracy and quality of our work. Our labs are using the very latest in state of the art equipment.

dosomeresearch says

Jun 20th, 2008 at 12am
This was debunked way back in 2005. See link: http://www.squaremouth.com/travel-advice/cheap-sunglasses-and-the-naked-eye/ Here's a quote: The cheapest pair of sunglasses–and even clear glass or plastic, for that matter–can block a significant amount of UV radiation. “You’re just not going to get in trouble if you block out sunlight,” says Dr. Kent Daum, an associate professor in the School of Optometry at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Sean Pope says

Jun 17th, 2008 at 12am
Wow, that's pretty bad. I always have a nice pair of expensive driving glasses that I've kept for years because they help me see, so now I can laugh at the people who've used $4 shades off a discount rack at the beach. Also, did no one else laugh when they read the title? I could have sworn they meant the ZZ Top song. But anyway, very informative.

trill42 says

Jun 17th, 2008 at 12am
Cheap sunglasses do not cause cancer. If you step inside a mall and put on a pair of inexpensive sunglasses, will you get cancer?

Sixth & Elm says

Jun 17th, 2008 at 12am
Maybe we should just walk around with our eyes closed all the time. No UV rays then. Seems to work fine for a lot of other problems in our world....

Zeke says

Jun 12th, 2008 at 12am
I couldn't say whether it is the governments responsibility to ban cheap sunglasses. Additionally, I am sure it isn't true that all cheap sunglasses are inadequate at banning UV rays. However, you can feel safe that buying a more expensive designer pair of sunglasses will protect your eyes. Check out Eye Pieces of Vail.

Tara says

Jun 12th, 2008 at 12am
It's bullshit that anyone should be relying on the government to mandate something. That's what's gotten us in so much trouble with our economy. The only way to 'mandate' something like this effectively without backlash is to let capitalism run it's course. If we go to private organisations (eg. Good Housekeeping) and look for their stamp of approval, the bad sunglasses will be forced to raise their standards or be forced out of the market. The answer to any question of government mandation is FUCK NO! We the people need to fucking do it ourselves. Also, as an Australian I dispute that there is a "massive" population.

Jeff - ScienceSays says

May 29th, 2008 at 12am
Damn...I usually do the exact same thing. Then again, what did people do BEFORE sunglasses? I guess that was before the o-zone hole...

Jim says

May 29th, 2008 at 12am
are you kidding? The US? We are so above the rules we can’t even get cancer. Fat Chance of getting the Bush regime to even listen, let alone DO something positive!
F*cking communist. QUICK, GET THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN AND BAN CHEAP SUNGLASSES, I CAN'T MAKE ANYTHING THAT RESEMBLES A DECISION BY MYSELF TO NOT BUY THEM. AHHH HELP RULERS OF MY LIFE I DON'T WANT TO BE IN CONTROL!

garry says

May 29th, 2008 at 12am
As most of us are fully aware, most dirt cheap products are made in China, dont you love the Chinese! Im sure they are having problems sleeping in their beds, over in China knowing that they are deliberately damaging the healths of the Americans.