THE EYES h a v e i t

...and when it comes to the frame, the bigger, the better!

Did you know wearing sunglasses is just as important as wearing a hat to protect against UV rays? We caught up with Ealing resident Aoife Naughton, Ophthalmologist and Oculoplastic surgeon, who shared some helpful tips on how to prevent UV light exposure and how to protect your eyes from damage Aoife is based at The Clinic, Holland Park

UV light ages all structures of the eye Corneal damage, cataracts and macular degeneration are all possible chronic effects from UV exposure and can ultimately lead to decreased vision The eyelid skin is the thinnest of the whole body UV damage induces dryness, wrinkles, accentuated skin furrows and increases your risk of skin cancer The damage to your eyes and skin from the sun ’ s UV radiation is cumulative, meaning your risk for developing sun- and UVrelated eye and eyelids will continue to grow throughout your lifetime

Sunglasses are must-have eyewear, helping protect from the sun and its reflective rays ’ impact to your eyes and your vision In addition, wearing a broad brimmed hat and daily SPF 50 to the skin help to mitigate risks of UV damage. Furthermore, choose glasses marked 100% UV protection The single most important thing to look for when buying sunglasses to protect your eyes is that they block 100 percent of UV rays Check for ‘CE’ marked UV400 lenses, or British Standards BS EN ISO 12312-1:2013.

When it comes to the frame, the bigger the better Consider buying oversized or wraparoundstyle sunglasses to limit UV rays from entering the sides of the glasses, thus offering optimal protection Price is actually not necessarily related to protection Sunglasses don't have to be expensive to be effective Inexpensive sunglasses, labeled as 100 percent UV-blocking are a better choice than designer sunglasses with no protection

Children’s eyes are particularly vulnerable to damage from the sun ’ s UV rays Their developing lens allows 70% more UV rays to enter the eye, compared to an adult Try to keep your child out of the sun during peak hours Seek out the shade during the sun ’ s peak hours, especially during the Summer The sun ’ s power hours are usually midday to early afternoon Again, sunglasses with 100% UV protection is a must If your child is still cruising around in a stroller, make sure it has a shield or cover on it

Some contact lenses offer UV protection But these lenses are not enough to keep your eyes safe from sun damage UV-blocking contact lenses provide good protection to the insides of the eyes, but it's important to look after the outsides of the eyes and eyelids too Supplement with sunglasses, marked 100% UV protection, for maximal protection

MAXMARA £150

GUESS £120

A KJAERBEDE £32

Four Best Stretches To Do Before

If you ’ re signed up for the Osterley 10k in June, the Ealing Half Marathon in September or even if you ’ re just a keen runner, Anja Forkert from ABF Fitness has a few recommendations on how you can ensure that you ’ re fully warmed up beforehand:

“I always like to do mobility warm-ups as they’re more effective when it comes to preparing the body for a work-out I would recommend incorporating the following into your pre-run warmup nd up and open up legs p yourself nice and tall and age your core Bend your t leg and touch the ground in middle but keeping your ck straight Only go as low as r back allows you to Do 30 onds on one side and 30 onds on the other side

Thread The Needle

This stretch concentrates on the back and opening up the shoulder Sit back onto your heels and then put your palms on the ground with your back straight Reach through the space between your arm and your knees with your opposite hand and then lift up and stretch towards the sky opening up the chest Do 30 seconds on one side and 30 seconds on the other side

Lunge With Overhand Reach

Do a normal forward lunge making sure that the back knee drops Lift the arm on the side of the front leg and reach to the sky, then twist to face the direction of the side of the front leg I find this to also be a great stress reliever Do 30 seconds on one side and 30 seconds on the other side

Spiderman Lunge

Get into the plank position, from that step forward making sure everything is engaged and that your hips are high and not collapsing Bring forward your right leg so that your foot is on an equal line with your hands Stay in that position for 30 second, return to the plank and bring forward your left leg for 30 seconds ”