THE Sunbed Association defended the industry yesterday after a North- East woman claimed she may go blind after prolonged tanning sessions without goggles.
Sam Laing, 23, from Sunderland, has developed growths on both eyes that will have to be removed.
She said she did not wear eye protection during sessions because she did not want white marks – known as panda eyes – on her face.
A spokeswoman for the Sunbed Association, which represents more than one in five salons in the country, said: “It is essential that people wear eye protection and there will be information about it displayed.
“Once a customer goes into a cubicle, locks the door and undresses, there is no way the operator can double-check that they have their goggles on.”
Miss Laing started taking sunbed sessions in her early teens.
About three months ago she was diagnosed with pterygium, a condition caused by ultra-violet light more commonly found in hot climates.
The operation to repair the damage could cause blindness.
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