Use of sunglasses in everyday life, at work, and during outdoor sports: current results from nationwide surveys

Abstract

Background: Ultraviolet (UV) radiation can increase the risk of eye damage. Therefore, wearing sunglasses is recommended to protect the eyes from UV rays. Objective: To report the latest data on the use of sunglasses in everyday life in adults, children, at work, and during outdoor sports. Material and methods: We used data from waves 2020 and 2021 from the representative National Cancer Aid Monitoring (NCAM). The use of sunglasses in everyday life was assessed in 4000 participants aged 16–65 years. Data on use during outdoor work were obtained from 486 outdoor workers and the use of sunglasses during outdoor sports from 2081 participants. Additionally, 554 adults living in a household with at least 1 child aged 1–10 years reported the use of sunglasses by children. Descriptive results and associations with demographic characteristics are reported. Results: Overall, 50.6% of the general population, 31.0% of outdoor workers, 44.3% of those who reported being engaged in outdoor sports and 12.5% of children wore sunglasses always or often while being outside for more than 10 min in summer. The infrequent use of sunglasses was associated with a younger age, male sex, and lower school education. Conclusion: Because of the relatively low use of sunglasses further education in various settings (e.g., at the workplace, kindergartens, and schools) seems necessary. The general public should also be made aware of the risks of UV radiation for the eyes, especially against the background of climate change.