Putting the lens on UV rays


Slip, slop, slap, and wrap. We all know what to do to protect our body from ultraviolet (UV) rays, but what about our eyes?

The sun’s harsh rays can cause damage to eyes and the sensitive skin around them, and Statistics New Zealand reports the country’s UV levels are high enough to wear daytime protection almost year-round.

Exposure to harsh UV, even briefly, can cause mild irritation, photoconjunctivitis, inflammation of the conjunctiva, and photokeratitis, or snow blindness, which is similar to sunburn of the eye. You might notice these straight away, or hours later.

Long-term and sometimes permanent effects range from increased risk of cataracts, to ptyergium (white, fleshy growth on the eye), basal cell carcinoma (skin cancer) on the eye-surrounding skin, and cancer of the cornea or conjunctiva. Wrinkles around the eye can develop too, from squinting and elasticity loss. Long story short, eye safety in the sun deserves as much attention as our skin.

Be aware of the common misconceptions in sun safety: darker sunglass lenses do not necessarily offer more protection, and an Ultraviolet Index of 3 or above can cause damage, even on a cloudy day. Statistics New Zealand reports that UV radiation also reflects off many surfaces; snow between 50 and 88%; sea surf and water 25 to 30%; sand 15%.

1. Always protect your eyes when outside with sunglasses, a hat, or both.
2. Wear a wide-brim hat (7cm or more) to reduce the radiation reaching your eyes. Aim for it to shade your scalp, face, neck, shoulders, and upper back. If you can, find a hat made with a UV protection factor of 50+.
3. Wear close-fitting sunglasses that meet New Zealand’s UV radiation protection standards.
4. Seek an eye check-up regularly.


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