Optical shops in the Eastern Province are making hay while the (scorching) sun shines. With the high temperatures – 47 degrees Celsius on Thursday – in the region, people are making a beeline for optical shops in search of sunglasses to shade and soothe their eyes. Several optical shopkeepers said that from the month of June onwards, the sale of sunglasses has increased by 25 percent. “These months normally see an increased sale of sunglasses. People are very careful and we have stocked various varieties, models and brands to attract customers,” a shopkeeper said. The price of a pair of sunglasses ranges from SR150 up to SR2,500. Customers select sunglasses which suit the shape of their faces, their tastes and their pocketbooks. According to an ophthalmologist working in a private clinic in Dammam, using sunglasses is a must during the summer season, especially if one is going outside in the middle of the day. Sunglasses protect one from the dangerous ultraviolet rays of the sun. “If a person is not using sunglasses during this peak summer season there is a high risk of harm from unprotected exposure to the sun and it may affect one's eyesight,” he said. “Most of our customers normally prefer designer sunglasses such as Police, Ray Ban, Carrera, Channel, Bulgari, D&G, Versace and Gucci,” said an optical showroom owner. “ These brands are world famous with high quality ultraviolet ray protection; moreover there are a variety of models,” he added. Hameed, an Indian expatriate customer, said he purchased a well-known brand of sunglasses for SR450 five years ago and is still using them, especially while driving. “It gives a cool feeling to my eyes. Now I came here to purchase sunglasses for my wife, but the prices are little high compared to the last time I was here,” he said. Doctors have warned about the low-priced sunglasses being sold on sidewalks and in front of mosques. “They are very harmful to the eyes and may change the wearer's eyesight because they are ordinary lenses with no specifications,” a doctor explained.
