THE Sunbed Association defended the […]

Evening Chronicle (Newcastle, England), Oct 26, 2009

THE Sunbed Association defended the industry following a user's claims that she may go blind after prolonged tanning sessions without goggles.

Self-confessed "tanorexic" Sam Laing, 23, from Sunderland, will have to have growths removed after they developed on both eyes.

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," she added'.

"If someone is given that information and they choose to ignore it, you cannot blame the operator or the sunbed industry.

"It is very rare that something like this happens."

Miss Laing, a customer services manager, started taking sunbed sessions in her early teens and was using them three times a week by the time she was 19.

About three months ago, her eyes became sore and redness spread into the irises of her eyes.

She was diagnosed with pterygium, which is a condition caused by ultraviolet light that is more commonly found in hot climates.

There is a risk that he operation to repair the damage could cause blindness.