Campaign aimed at
protecting eyes from the sun
By Jody Johnson-Pettit
When slathering on the sunscreen this summer, don’t
forget about protecting your eyes against harmful
UV sun rays.
To help get the message out about eyes and sun awareness,
Transitions Optical is launching a Total Sun Protection
Education Campaign in Canada.
“The goal of the campaign is to ensure all Canadians know
how to protect their eyes all year round,” says Patience
Cook, director of North America marketing for
Transitions Optical.
“We know that people are concerned about the sun’s UV
rays, but protecting their skin is often more top-of-mind
than protecting their eyes.”
The campaign will target eyecare professionals as well as
dermatologists to help get the message out.
36 Optical Prism | May 2017
“The campaign will create educational resources for
eyecare professionals to reference when talking to their
patients about sun protection,” says Cook. “By starting a
dialogue around total sun protection, we hope to encourage
people to take proactive steps all year long to reduce
the harmful effects of the sun’s UV rays, like damage
to eyesight.”
New research from Transitions Optical has revealed
a need for increased education on the importance of
year-round protection.
A December 2016 survey, conducted by Wakefield Research,
found that more than half of respondents believe that sun
protection is only needed in warmer summer months.
The survey also revealed that only 59 percent of Canadian
eyeglass wearers use protective eyeglasses – either regular
eyeglasses with UV protection or photochromic lenses.