Sunglasses
To protect eyes from ultraviolet How does UV radiation affect the eyes?
Exposing the eyes to too much UV radiation can
(UV) radiation, Cancer Council cause short-term complaints such as:
Victoria recommends sunglasses • mild irritation
that: • excessive blinking
swelling
• are close fitting •
1
• difficulty looking at strong light
• wrap-around and cover as • acute photokeratopathy, also known as
sunburn of the cornea or snow blindness.
much of the eye area as Exposure to UV radiation over long periods can
possible 2–8
lead to more serious damage to the eyes such
as:
• meet Australian Standard • cataracts, or cloudiness of the lens
AS 1067:2003 for • cancer of the conjunctiva, the membrane
sunglasses covering the white part of the eye
• pterygium (pronounced tur-rig-i-um), an
• are marked eye protection overgrowth of the conjunctiva on to the cornea
factor (EPF) 10. • solar keratopathy, or cloudiness of the cornea
• skin cancer of the eyelids and around the eyes
• ocular melanoma.9
When the UV Index is 3 or above
use a combination of the five How can I reduce UV radiation exposure to my
eyes?
SunSmart steps: Sunglasses which meet Australian Standard
AS/NZS 1067:2003 (Sunglasses and fashion
1. Slip on some sun-protective spectacles: sunglasses category 2, 3 or 4) and a
broad-brimmed hat can reduce UV radiation
clothing. 10
exposure to the eyes by up to 98%. Even
wearing a hat with a brim that shades the eyes can
8
reduce UV radiation to the eyes by 50%.
2. Slop on SPF30+ sunscreen.
The Australian Standard measures how much UV
radiation goes through the lens, and defines lens
3. Slap on a hat – that protects your width and height measurements for effective eye
face, head, neck and ears. protection. The use of large, wrap-around, close-
fitting sunglasses helps to reduce reflected UV
radiation and glare which passes around the edge
4. Seek shade. of the sunglasses and reaches the eyes.
Sunglasses labelled EPF10 exceed the
5. Slide on some sunglasses – make requirements of the Australian Standard and may
sure they meet Australian Standards. provide even greater protection.11
The colour or darkness of the lenses does not
Extra care should be taken between 10 am and indicate the level of sun protection; you still need
2 pm (11 am to 3 pm daylight saving time) when to check the label. To reduce glare you may
UV Index levels reach their peak. require a darker-tinted sunglass lens or polarised
lenses.
To find out UV Index levels look for the Swimming goggles with EPF10 are available.
SunSmart UV Alert in your daily newspaper’s If you wear prescription glasses, consider adding a
weather section or visit: UV-protective coating, buying prescription
www.bom.gov.au/weather/uv or sunglasses or buying protective shades that can
www.arpansa.gov.au/uvindex/realtime (for live be worn over your glasses. You can also buy
UV levels). photochromatic (transition) lenses with UV
radiation protection. These will change colour
Sunglasses
when you are in bright sunlight and stay clear Eye protection in sport
indoors or at night. It is important to note that You can buy sunglasses designed to suit specific
transition lenses don’t work as well in cars sports, including golf, cycling, cricket and sailing.
because the windscreen and windows absorb UV
radiation, resulting in lower UV radiation levels. Further information and resources
Being SunSmart in Australia information sheet
Some contact lenses have built-in UV radiation
protection. However, it is recommended that you Visit www.sunsmart.com.au or contact the Cancer
still wear sunglasses over the top to protect the Council Helpline on 13 11 20.
rest of the eye.
Speak to your optometrist, ophthalmologist or
Children and sunglasses doctor about how to protect your eyes from UV
Since eye damage from UV radiation builds over radiation.
time, it is important to protect the eyes of children. For more tips on saving your sight, visit Vision
Sunglasses designed for babies and toddlers have 2020 Australia’s www.vision2020australia.org.au
soft elastic to keep them in place. It is important to UV-protective clothing and accessories can be
choose a style that stays on securely so that the purchased at the Cancer Council Victoria’s Carlton
arms don’t become a safety hazard. shop or online at www.cancervic.org.au; click on
Toy or fashion labelled glasses do not meet the ‘Our shop’.
requirements for sunglasses under the Australian This information can be photocopied for
Standard and therefore should not be used for sun distribution.
10,12
protection.
Some young children may be reluctant to wear References
1 Cains S. Royal Australian College of Ophthalmologists policy
sunglasses. You can still protect their eyes by statement on sunglasses. Medical Journal of Australia 1992; 157: 343–
avoiding peak UV radiation times, putting on a hat 4.
and staying in the shade. 2 Taylor H. Climatic droplet keratopathy and pterygium. Australian
Journal of Ophthalmology 1981; 9:199–206.
3 Moran D, Hollows F. Pterygium and ultraviolet radiation: a positive
Eye protection for outdoor workers correlation. British Journal of Ophthalmology 1984; 68: 343–6.
4 Roberts T, Coroneo M. Pterygium: the curse of the Australian sun
Some outdoor workers need protection from flying lover. Modern Medicine 1999; September: 31–5.
particles, dust, splashing materials and harmful 5 Coroneo M. Pterygium as an early indicator of ultraviolet insolation: a
hypothesis. British Journal of Ophthalmology 1993; 77: 734–9.
gases. They should wear sunglasses that comply 6 West S. et al. Sunlight exposure and risk of lens opacities in a
with both the Australian Standard AS 1067 and the population-based study. The Salisbury eye evaluation project. JAMA
Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1998; 280: 714–8.
7 Hollows F, Moran D. Cataract – the ultraviolet risk factor. Lancet 1981;
1337:1992 (eye protectors for industrial ii: 1249–50.
applications).13 8 Taylor H. The biological effects of UVB on the eye. Photochemistry &
Photobiology 1989; 50: 489–92.
9 Vajdic CM, Kricker A, Giblin M, McKenzie J, Aitken J, Giles GG,
Eye protection in solariums Armstrong BK. Incidence of ocular melanoma in Australia from 1990 to
1998. International Journal of Cancer. 2003; 105(1):117–22.
Eye goggles should always be worn in a solarium. 10 Australian Standard AS 1067:2003 (Sunglasses and fashion
If the eyes are exposed to UVA radiation from a spectacles).
solarium, the cornea and the conjunctiva may be 11 Gies HP, Roy CR and Elliott G. A Proposed Protection Factor for
Sunglasses. Clinical & Experimental Optometry 1990; 73: 184–9.
briefly inflamed, and sight can sometimes be 12 Choice. Eye Safety. Sunglasses. Choice Magazine 1999; October:
permanently damaged. 8–11.
13 Australian Cancer Society and The Centre for Eye Research
Australia (CERA), Position Statement: Eye Protection, 2000.
Solariums emit harmful levels of UV radiation that
can be up to three times as strong as the midday Latest update: January 2009
summer sun. This is the equivalent of the UV
Index being 36. (Generally the highest UV Index
level in Victoria is 12). The more your skin is
exposed to UV radiation from any source, the
greater your risk of skin cancer.