Summer in Australia is well-known for its hot weather, and here it’s often hotter or sunnier than many regions, which is one reason the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists (ASO) is reminding people to invest in high-quality sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays.
ASO Vice-President, Associate Professor Ashish Agar, says sunglasses aren’t just a practical gift for children, stressing that sunglasses aid prevention of future vision impairment and the high-risk of developing eye damage from UV radiation.
“Summer in Australia is a time when we get outdoors and see what nature has to offer with some of the world’s best beaches and environment parks literally on our doorsteps,” A/Prof Agar said.
“What can often be overlooked when heading out and about, is that being ‘sun smart’ includes protecting our eye health — it is an issue that does not discriminate and touches all Australians.
“I see and treat many patients where sun damage has played a key role in the deterioration of eye health, so early education is crucially important to improve patient outcomes.”
“We need to prioritise educating the generations of today and tomorrow to improve patient outcomes in the future.
“Children are considered high-risk of developing eye damage from ultraviolet radiation due to their eye lenses being clear and more vulnerable to solar penetration than adults. Eye damage from repeated sun exposure can lead to serious eye conditions such as pterygium and cataract and researchers are continuing to question its role in macular degeneration.”
Pterygium – a growth from sun damaged skin on the whites of the eyes which spreads and becomes irritated – can affect vision, as can cataracts in which half a million new cases are diagnosed each year in Australia. Macular degeneration, with over 10,000 new cases diagnosed in Australia each year, is regarded as the leading cause of blindness and sever vision loss nationwide.
A/Prof Agar outlined the recommendations by the ASO in considering what to look for when purchasing a pair of sunglasses.
“Eyewear that is effective in sun protection must be close-fitting and a wrap-around style as sidelight can result in unexpectedly high sun exposure levels for the eye. Eyewear must meet the Australian and New Zealand standard for sunglasses where the lens category of two, three or four.
“Always check the label to determine the level of ultraviolet protection provided and don’t be influenced by price tags when purchasing sunglasses. More expensive does not always mean better protection for your eyes.
“And don’t forget — for best practice when selecting headwear — a broad-brimmed hat will provide the optimum eye protection against reflected radiated rays.”
In 2007, the Cancer Council updated its ‘Slip, Slop, Slap’ slogan to include ‘Seek’ and ‘Slide’, with the latter reflecting the importance of sliding on sunglasses to prevent sun damage to the eyes.
