Extreme UV Warning and sunglasses

ongolo

ongolo

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Hi All,

We have a problem here. Our weather report says every day, UV Warning 10+Extreme.

When I am on the boat my eyes are burning despite that I am wearing what is supposed to be good (CE) eye protection.

Some years ago, an optometrist told me that dark glasses cause the pupil to open, and if there is not enough UV protection in these glasses, one actually does harm to ones eyes.

Any idea how to check if in fact the CE approved sunglasses block UV light?

Thanks

Ongolo
 
I'd be interested to know how to double-check too, as some sunglasses can have fake/false UV labels. In theory you should make sure you buy them in a very reputable shop, but even then I don't trust the distribution network. The opportunities for unscrupulous suppliers to make lots of $$$$$'s is too great. So a way of checking both UVA and UVB would be very useful.

One problem I've found is that, even with sunglasses that are UV resistant, a lot of light ( and presumably, unfiltered UV) can bounce from the side outside the frame outside the field of vision, causing headaches etc. The solution I found was only to use skiing/mountaineering type sunglasses that have very small gaps between the edges of the glasses and the face so that light leakage is minimal. A peaked hat helps a lot too. Never use sunglasses with a small area, even if they look cooler.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Any idea how to check if in fact the CE approved sunglasses block UV light

[/ QUOTE ] You might like to read this http://www.eyecare-trust.org.uk/item_view.php?item_id=120 I'm sure you can find loads more via Google

Not sure if it is mentioned but it is also important that the glasses "wrap around" the sides so that stray light cannot shine in behind the lenses and reflect into the eyes.
 
There are several grades of CE sunglass "protection", 1-4 in ascending order. I have level 4 for skiing/cimbing, and they can be difficult to find ( mountaineering/ski shops are often the only stockists). With this level of spec on, your ability to see colours is dimnished, and you can't drive with them, but I find them fine for skiing/alpine mountaineering. Is there a number1,2,3, or 4 on you specs? then its probably the number I am talking about and it sounds like you need 4.
 
I took a cheap pair in to my local optician and asked if he'd test them for me to see if they really did offer UV protection, which he did as a favour. (Because, as you say, fake sunglasses merely enlarge the pupil and let more radiation in)
 
My gf has to periodically take a drug that makes her transparent (I kid you not, search for PUVA treatment) and then undergo UV blasting courtesy of the NHS... she has to wear sunglasses even when under a fluorescent light while she has the drug in her system... we've taken a few supposed "100% UVA+UVB" sunglasses to the NHS for testing and been unpleasently surprised by the results for certain very expensive brand glasses! So you're correct to be worried.

Regardless of any labelling, we ALWAYS get any new ones she buys tested first by the NHS. Unsure if they'd offer this service for free unless you needed it... not sure.

PS. I have a spectroscope and attempted to view a UV lamp through the glasses in a way to "home check" them... I gave a couple of pairs the thumbs up, and a couple the thumbs down... and I got it wrong. Unsure how they check them TBH.
 
Hi ya ongolo, long time no hear.

I have to have prescription sunglasses now, and they have given me genuine Polaroid lenses whcih work so much better than others I have tried.
RayBans also worked very well.

neither option is cheap.



I suggest you go to the optician for advice, and not rely on unknown brands
 
My late friend with the one eye (due to sun-provoked cancer) said "get a hat" and I have to agree. My father in law had cancer chopped out of his ears - he didn't wear a wide-brimmed hat while building railways in Nigeria. The Aussie caracature bunnet with the corks could be a life-saver.
sun-hat133x200.jpg

Or just the one the elephant ate three times
 
I too undertook PUVA treatment several years ago. It was advised that eye-protection was worn for 24 hours after the treatment, irrespective of whether the sun was out. My dermatologist recommended a wrap-round pair which consisted of clear material which blocked out the majority of harmful rays without lookin like a Mafia boss. They had to be specially ordered from a company in Oxford, wish I could remember the name.
 
You could try buying sunglasses from a Personal Protective Equipment supplier like Arco. www.arco.co.uk
They have a variety of sunglasses and state whether they are uv absorbing or not.

Many of them are surpirisingly stylish but are almost all under a tenner. Gone are the days when everyone has to look like a white coated lab technician of the 1950's !!
Also, because they're essentially designed to be safety glasses worn in the workplace they are mostly wrap- around and close fitting.

From a supplier like this you can be sure that if they say they are uv absorbing, they are. They even state the relevant British & European standards the glasses conform to.

If there isn't an Arco or equivalent near you, you could try googling suppliers of the following brands if the styles interest you: Uvex, Pulsafe, Peltor.

No connection etc. There are plenty of other PPE suppliers around that stock similar things.


Good luck
 
Hi Guys, thanks for the good advice, problem most of you don.t seem to be aware of, Iam in Africa. So the shops and suppliers you guys mention mean nothing to me.

However, here a lot of people wear (as suggested above) industrial safety glasses. They have the CE mark on, I must check for the number. Did not know this.

Shall google the link above.

Thanks again.


Ongolo Esq. (infamous)
 
One test of the UV capabilities of glasses is whether you tan round the eyes. I alway wear sunglasses in the sun due to a small cataract in one eye & my skin is lighter around the eyes which means they must be doing their job!

Ivan
 
I had been wondering whether my prescription 'Reactions' lenses offer decent level of UV protection??

Also just as a matter of interest I find that they are useless in the car. For some reason unless they are in 'diresct' sunlight they dont change colour..

Regards Nick
 
Hi , I checked the CE approved sunglasses and they have no number, so they are a fake.

Followed the link suggested above, that said green ones are best, tried my green ones today and have no trouble with my eyes. Must investigate further.

Thanks and regards.


Ongolo
 
risk is not only to your eyes

I've just had my second basal cell carcinoma cut out of my face. Note that these are the lowest, least worrying sort of cancer. They just get bigger and dont travel. This one was difficult to spot and found only by chance. It was on my temple and half hidden by my spectacle side piece.
Treatment is to take out an eye shaped piece of skin and flesh a lot longer than the growth diameter. Now this is quite difficult on the temple as there is little depth of flesh over the bone. I was lucky and had a good surgeon.I've no doubt it was caused by exposure to the sun while sailing. I now use sun - block and an "elepants dinner" hat.
I give you the gory details to persuade you that any cancer is best avoided. Its very inconvenient and surprisingly expensive. The first one cost £560 to have removed.
I'm told that the problem can be dormant for a long period. Careless exposure can come back and haunt you decades later.
I think it's well worth taking sensible precautions. Next time it might be a melanoma.
 
Re:sunglasses

I have heard that if sunglasses are too dark, the pupils can open wider, letting a larger amount of residual UV into the eye.

The eye does, however, have it's own defenses against UV light.

Philip
 
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