Optical Prism May 2017 | Page 37

The campaign will create educational resources, such as brochures, posters, articles, digital resources and more to increase awareness of total sun protection among millions of Canadians. “You can’t put sunscreen on your eyes, so the cam- paign is encouraging Canadians to take protective measures like wearing eyeglasses or sunglasses with UV protection, wearing a wide-brimmed hat and seeking shade whenever possible,” says Cook. Also as part of the campaign, a panel of representatives from the Canadian Dermatology Association (CDA), Canadian Ophthalmological Society (COS), eyecare professionals and representatives of the Canadian Association of Optometrists and Canadian Opticians Association will explore different types of light, options for protection, consumer awareness and misconceptions and what can be done to further increase education around sun protection. “The call to action is simple: when outdoors, protect your eyes,” says Jennifer Brunet-Colvey, executive director and chief executive officer of the COS. “Your eyes, like your skin, are vulnerable to UV rays from the sun and unprotected exposure can cause short-term pain and discomfort or even have the long-term effect of jeopardizing your vision and increasing your risk of many serious eye diseases, such as cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and more.” “It is important to take protective measures. This is important for everyone, but especially Canadians who spend a lot of time outdoor, and for children, as they are more susceptible to the sun’s UV rays,” says Chantal Courchesne, chief executive officer of the CDA. Transitions Optical offers several products to help protect the eyes. Transitions Signature lenses are their fastest-adapting and most popular lenses, featuring Chromea7 technology, which seamlessly adapts to changing light conditions. Transitions XTRActive lenses are their darkest lenses outdoors and provide a hint of tint indoors, while Transitions Vantage lenses reduce glare and seamlessly polarize as they adapt and darken. Optical Prism | May 2017 37