THE list of things we worry about when we get dressed is endless: if it’s not how big our bum looks in the latest micro-mini, then it’s how to conceal a muffin-top when wearing skinny jeans. With such potential sartorial disasters hovering in our wardrobe, the last thing on our mind is the risk clothes and accessories pose to our health and safety.
Yet most of us have at some time slipped on the stairs while rushing around in stockinged feet or taken a tumble when a skirt hasn’t stretched as far as our legs would like it to. The list of potential fashion-related health hazards is as long as the scarf which led to the unfortunate demise in 1927 of American dancer Isadora Duncan, when it got caught in the wheels of the open-topped car in which she was travelling, dragging her to her death.
Even those of us less flamboyant in our accessorising can put ourselves at risk in vehicles: almost half the women questioned in a recent insurance company study admitted choosing shoes to match their outfit, rather than for safe driving.
And, even if we avoid an accident, we often risk our long-term health for the sake of keeping up appearances. New research from the College of Optometrists shows that people in this country are far more concerned with the fashion status of their sunglasses than whether they can protect the eyes against harmful UV rays.
Read on to discover more potential dangers lurking in your wardrobe – and how to avoid them.
YOUR SUNGLASSES
In Hollywood, statement shades are really a force-field to protect celebs from the gaze of the public, rather than the sun’s harmful UV rays.
But, while being precious doesn’t damage your health, if you’re going to join the year-round obsession with wearing shades, then make sure they’re up to scratch because wearing non UV-absorbing lenses actually does more damage than not wearing sunglasses at all.
This is because behind a tinted lens, the pupil opens wider, allowing more UV light than normal in. This reduces the eye’s natural protection against temporary but uncomfortable sunburn-like conditions. Long-term exposure may contribute towards cataracts later in life.
DAMAGE LIMITATION: Don’t want to sacrifice style or break the bank to invest in the best for your health? No problem – you can easily find sunglasses on the high street carrying the CE mark and labelled with British Standard BS EN 1836:1997, which ensures a safe level of UV protection.
Also, cover up your shades before you chuck them into the bottom of your handbag – the Eyecare Trust says scratched lenses scatter the sun’s light, which could cause glare around the damaged area. Keep them in a case to avoid wear and tear; clean regularly with a mild detergent and water and dry with a micro fibre cloth – not paper – to prevent scratching the lens.
Complete article : Here
