~Serious generational disparities revealed regarding UV protection for the eyes~ 70% of men in their 50s have no protection, knowledge gap with those in their 20s is 2.7 times, and just under 40% of men in their 20s use parasols and UV-blocking glass

Serious generational gap revealed in UV protection for eyes – 70% of men in their 50s have no protection, knowledge gap with those in their 20s is 2.7 times larger – Nearly 40% of men in their 20s use parasols and UV-blocking glasses ​ Image
URL: Volley Brands Japan Co., Ltd. Press release: July 24, 2025 ~Serious generational gap revealed in UV protection for eyes~ 70% of men in their 50s have no protection, knowledge gap with those in their 20s is 2.7 times, 20s men use parasols and UV-blocking glasses at nearly 40% each Only 20% of people correctly understand the harmful effects of UV rays on the eyes, but this rises to over 40% in their 20s
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-fd6d17012d2562630ae042e63c2dcc8f-1536×1024.png Bolle Brands Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo; CEO: Peter Anthony Smith), which develops the protective eyewear brand “Bolle Safety” with the mission of “protecting the eyes of people all over the world,” conducted a survey of 500 men and women in their 20s to 60s nationwide on UV protection measures for the eyes by
generation. The survey results showed that 58.2% of respondents took some kind of UV protection measures for their eyes, a 19.6 percentage point decrease from the 77.8% who took UV protection measures for their skin. In particular, 68% of men in their 50s took no UV protection measures for their eyes, the highest percentage of all age groups and genders. This is 2.7 times the rate of parasol use among men in their 20s, where 38% used parasols (26% did not take any precautions), revealing that there is a serious generational gap in knowledge and behavior regarding UV protection, with the generation with a higher risk of cataracts being the least protective.
Furthermore, the percentage of people who answered that they knew that ultraviolet rays can cause eye diseases such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration was 43% in their 20s, compared to 16% in their 50s and 13% in their 60s, showing a tendency for the level of understanding to decrease with age. In particular, it was found that 88% of men in their 50s did not fully understand the relationship between ultraviolet rays and cataracts, highlighting the reverse phenomenon of a lack of knowledge in the generation at higher risk. ■Results summary ・Percentage of people who take measures to protect their eyes from UV rays: highest for women in their 20s (74%), lowest for men in their 50s (32% for men in their 20s) ・The most common reason for not taking measures among men in their 50s, who have the lowest implementation rate, is “because it’s been fine up until now” (38.2%) ・Men in their 50s: 50% of those who started taking measures “when they actually felt something was wrong with their eyes,” fearing it’s too late ・38% of men in their 20s use parasols, and 38% use UV-blocking glasses. The “common sense of the new generation” has spread. ・23.6% (43% in their 20s/13% in their 60s) correctly understand that UV rays can cause cataracts, etc. – Those with a family history of cataracts are twice as likely to take measures (60%/30%) – About 40% of people “don’t know” about the features of polarized lenses, and lack of product knowledge is an obstacle to taking measures ・81% of people would use “clear lens protective glasses that block 99% of UV rays” if they were available Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-78268db008eb9d5ae1a00e0b5fc2f4ae-3900×2042.png 84% of men in their 50s answered that they think UV protection is important, but 68% have no protection, which is remarkable. In Japan, the number of cataract patients is rapidly increasing due to aging, and the increase in medical expenses has become a serious social problem. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10 to 20% of cataracts may be caused by excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays, and the Japanese Cataract Society also lists ultraviolet rays as the second most important risk factor after aging. In fact, it has been reported that 37 to 54% of people in their 50s have cataracts. In Australia, a leading country in UV protection, the 5S campaign, “Slip (wear a shirt), Slop (apply sunscreen), Slap (wear a hat), Seek (seek shade), Slide (wear sunglasses),” has been implemented, and UV protection for the eyes has become a national habit. On the other hand, in Japan, the use of sunglasses and protective glasses has not progressed, and there is insufficient understanding of the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. Therefore, this survey was conducted with the aim of understanding the actual UV protection measures taken by Japanese people by generation during the summer when ultraviolet rays are strong, and to use this as basic data for future prevention and awareness activities.
41.8% of people take measures to protect their eyes from UV rays Image
URL: https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-f839d202510d276da555a93a621464af-3900×2042.png 77.8% of respondents took measures to protect their skin from UV rays, while 41.8% took measures to protect their eyes from UV rays. When asked about specific measures to protect the skin from UV rays, the most common answer overall was “sunscreen cream (55%),” followed by “parasol (42.8%)” and “hat (34.6%).” When it comes to UV protection for the eyes, the most common overall was “sunglasses” at 34.6%, followed by “hats/sun visors (23.6%)” and “UV-blocking glasses (21.8%)”. The lowest rate of UV protection for the eyes was among men in their 50s, with 68% not taking any precautions. This is 2.6 times higher than the rate of non-prescription among men in their 20s (34%), highlighting the serious generational gap in that the more vulnerable people are to cataract screening, the higher their risk of developing cataracts.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-52ca6ec58f815d75f7121bd9ac94d893-3900×1893.png Men in their 50s, who are at high risk of cataracts, are the ones who take the least precautions against UV rays. The reason for not taking UV protection measures for the eyes is “not knowing the risks” Next, we asked those who do not take measures to protect their eyes from UV rays about the specific reasons why. The most common answer was “it’s too much trouble (it’s a hassle, I forget, it’s inconvenient to carry around)” at 29.7%, followed by “I don’t feel the need (I don’t know the risks, it’s been fine until now)” at 27.3% and “the inconvenience of colored lenses (it’s dark indoors, it changes how you see)” at 13.9%. When we asked about the ownership of sunglasses or protective glasses with UV protection, 58.8% owned them, and of those, 69.7% used them at least once a week. Additionally, the top reasons for not using sunglasses or UV protective glasses were “problems of hassle/habit (forgetting/troublesome/inconvenient to carry around)” at 25.2%, followed by “I’m concerned about the appearance (embarrassed/doesn’t suit me/I’m concerned about how others see me)” and “I don’t see the need for them (it’s never been a problem until now/I don’t know the risks)” (both at 24.8%). 72.4% of people said they were worried about UV-induced eye diseases in the future Tends to be higher in women and those with family members suffering from cataracts, etc. When asked if they were worried about developing eye diseases caused by UV rays, 22.8% answered “very worried” and 49.6% answered “somewhat worried,” meaning that a total of 72.4% of people were worried. When broken down by gender, this percentage was higher for women at 80.4%, and was also higher among those who answered that they had a family member with eye diseases. If there is a family member with eye diseases such as cataracts, the rate of taking measures against UV rays and having correct knowledge is also high.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-13c922ac1bb53db948d499506e0c2811-3900×2042.png Only 23.6% of people “know the relationship between UV rays and eye diseases,” and the younger the generation, the more accurate the knowledge.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-d97d339877bc141f2e064665bc684d95-3900×2042.png In recent years, ultraviolet rays have been considered a problem not only as a cause of cataracts, but also as a cause of age-related macular degeneration. When asked if they knew that ultraviolet rays are related to eye diseases, only 23.6% of the total answered that they knew. Looking at the results by age, there was a reversal phenomenon in which younger people were more knowledgeable, with more than 40% of both men and women in their 20s answering that they knew.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-2513150c5b0f7eab2c3b8ca46f3922a0-3900×2042.png Reference: Japan Ophthalmological Association “What you need to know about age-related macular degeneration – treatment and prevention” https://www.gankaikai.or.jp/health/51/index.html Japanese Cataract Society “Cataract and Epidemiological Research”
http://www.jscr.net/ippan/page-007.html What makes people start taking UV protection measures for their eyes? Younger people say it’s fashion, while half of men in their 50s say they “take measures when they feel unwell.” When asked about events that would trigger people to start taking UV protection measures for their eyes, clear generational differences emerged. Among people in their 20s, the most common answer was “If there was a stylish product that didn’t fog up (28%),” showing that the younger the generation, the more they value fashion and functionality. On the other hand, the response “When I actually feel eye discomfort (44%)” was particularly high among those in their 50s, with 50% of men in their 50s saying they would consider taking measures only after symptoms appear. As damage from UV rays is cumulative, it is too late to take measures once symptoms appear, but the older the generation, the more passive they are.
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-d6ad76853574c5c8ee8ab29511d207a8-3900×2042.png When asked if they would like to use clear protective glasses that block 99% of UV rays, 31.6% answered “I would definitely like to use them” and 49.4% answered “I would rather use them,” meaning that a total of 81% of people would like to use them. In addition, the most common criteria for choosing glasses to protect the eyes from UV rays was “light and comfortable to wear (86.8%),” followed by “affordable price (86.4%),” and “non-fog and fog-resistant” ranked third with 81.8%. ＜Survey Overview＞ Number of valid responses: 500 men and women aged 20-69 living in Japan (50 people each for each gender and age group) *Excluding full-time housewives (househusbands) and students Survey period: June 30, 2025 to July 1, 2025 Survey method: Internet research *The composition ratio figures are rounded to the first decimal place, so the total of each aggregated value may not necessarily be 100%. *When using the survey results in this release, please note that they are “surveyed by Volley Brands Japan.” [An era where you can choose protective glasses by design] Bollé Safety’s high-performance anti-fog eyewear Bolle Safety offers the “STKS” series of Wellington-style safety glasses, which are designed with an emphasis on design. The glasses come standard with “UV-cut lenses (blocks 99.9%),” which was also in high demand in this survey, and feature a unique anti-fog platinum-coated lens, which is the third most popular criterion for choosing glasses. You can choose from three designs: a clear lens with no color, a smoked black lens, and a polarized lens that cuts reflected light and reduces glare. Various affiliated stores also sell prescription safety glasses of different models in stores.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-41fc940c7edbcbc567f9123c73496546-1340×1340.png STKS410 Brown Tortoise Clear, blocks 99.9% of UV rays even with transparent lenses
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-c363fb14cc2e093ed55c5f78d4c7f264-1340×1340.png Polarized lens installed STKS420 block gloss Polarized POLARIZED lens
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-198417e3fe812401dd1ef2029d73e976-3900×2042.png stks410 series ​
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-74c58e0a671a73481e104effd6d6216f-3900×2042.png stks420 series ​ Features of Bollé Safety lenses Bolle Safety’s protective glasses block over 99.9% of UV rays, protecting the eye health of workers. In addition, they are coated with a super anti-fog, scratch-resistant “platinum coating” that makes them less likely to fog up or get scratched, ensuring a comfortable field of vision. They are lightweight, have a great design, and are available in models suitable for everyday use. • Anti-fog and scratch-resistant coating compliant with EN166 standards • Differences in visibility and protection depending on the number of lens curves • Available in clear, smoked and polarized lenses
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-be49479869eec186316629ad1f00bdd9-429×243.png Anti-fog test using a steamer Lens left: Platinum coating / Lens right: Conventional coating
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https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/127493/19/127493-19-4f6abd7c3bc2e4d7ac33ed22e04755f1-800×237.png [Company Profile] Company name: Volley Brands Japan Co., Ltd. Representative Peter Anthony Smith, CEO and CEO. Head office location: 4F Yushima Medical Center Building, 2-21-2 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo TEL: 03-5844-2040 URL https://www.bolle-safety.com/jp/ Established: October 2007 Capital: 10 million yen Business: Manufacture and sell protective glasses from the French brand “Volley Safety” The information posted in the press release, product prices,
specifications, services, contact information, and other information will be the information at the time of announcement. Please note that changes may occur without notice. Please check the website for the latest product specifications and sales status.
https://www.bolle-safety.com/jp/ [Contact information regarding product purchases] Management Department Phone number: 03-5844-2040 Opening hours: Monday to Friday (9am to 5pm)
https://www.bolle-safety.com/jp/contactus Details about this release automatically, so please do not reply.