Quick question: What percentage of your tanners wears FDA-compliant eyewear when they tan at your salon?
I ask this question every time I teach the Eye Protection section of Sun is Life® Training & Certification. I remember asking it during a class I taught several years ago. One salon owner’s hand instantly shot up and I called on her to answer. Almost defiantly and certainly with conviction, she exclaimed, “100 percent!” I responded, “Wow! Every single tanner at your salon wears FDA eye protection during every UV session?” “Yes,” she smiled. I then asked her how she knew this, unless she peeked into the tanning rooms to confirm. That’s when her confidence began to waver.
You can do your best to explain the importance of eyewear, but you can never really be sure your guests take it seriously. So, why don’t some tanners wear it? The most common answer is “vanity” … they don’t want to develop “raccoon eye” tan lines.
Eye protection for sunbeds and sunlamps is covered under the FDA’s Code of Federal Regulations. FDA 21CFR 1040.20 (C) (4) states: Protective eyewear. (i) Each sunlamp product shall be accompanied by the number of sets of protective eyewear that is equal to the maximum number of persons that the instructions provided under paragraph (e)(1)(ii) of this section recommend to be exposed simultaneously to radiation from such product. This means one set of eyewear for every person exposed to UV in your tanning room – usually, this means “one.” Additionally, the code states that the eyewear must block 99% UVA and 99.9% UVB to be compliant. The eye protection also must “enable the user to see clearly enough to reset the timer.” In other words, the tanner must be able to turn off the bed or booth in case of emergency without removing the eyewear, and exposing the eyes to UV light.
Many tanners have intentionally or unintentionally tanned without eyewear. Did they damage their eyes even if they were closed? The eyelid simply does not have sufficient melanin to protect the eye from UV. The problem is that unprotected exposure can result in cumulative, long-term damage. Too much unprotected exposure to UVB damages the cornea, while too much UVA damages the retina. So, it would seem obvious that all salon guests would want to wear proper eye protection, but not all of them do.
While vanity may be the No.1 reason for not wearing it, the most critical result of this accumulated unprotected exposure can be cataracts – the clouding of the eye’s natural lens causing decreased vision and possible blindness. Other types of damage include cancer around the eyes, macular degeneration, and irregular tissue growth that can block vision (pterygium).
Why risk long-term eye damage because of tan lines? Explain the risks to your guests and make sure you do everything (short of peeking into the room!) to make sure they know that wearing FDA compliant eyewear is NOT optional.
If you haven’t signed up for Sun is Life Training, visit sunislifetraining.com. This month, IST Magazine will provide a free preview of our eye protection module, “I Care for Eye Care.” It covers both eye protection basics and long-term damage risks. I know you’ll like what you see (no pun intended)!
Sun is Life Training & Certification is available online 24/7, and features easy-to-use, easy-to-understand modules. Try it today!
