A video shared on Facebook claims that wearing sunglasses causes cancer. But there’s no evidence for this.
The video includes a clip of Andreas Moritz, a “medical intuitive” who reportedly died in 2012.
In it, he claims sunglasses block UV light from reaching the eyes and prevent the brain from producing a hormone needed for melanin production in the skin, leaving it “susceptible” to sunlight. He also claims the introduction of sunglasses led to a massive increase in cancers. Full Fact has fact checked this clip several times before.
As we have already explained, melanin is produced locally by skin cells in response to UV light, not by light entering the eyes. A professor of ophthalmology at Moorfields Eye Hospital previously told us, people who lose their vision can still tan. There’s evidence sunglasses may also help prevent melanoma of the eye and the NHS recommends wearing them.
Join 75,000 newsletter subscribers who trust us to check the facts
Sign up to get weekly updates on politics, immigration, health and more.
Subscribe to weekly email newsletters from Full Fact for updates on politics, immigration, health and more.
Our fact checks are free to read but not to produce, so you will also get occasional emails about fundraising
and other ways you can help. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information about how we use your data
see our Privacy Policy.
It’s worth checking health claims on social media against reliable sources such as the NHS.
