Most Aussies are sun-smart when it comes to caring for their skin. That’s pretty understandable given that the country sees some of the highest skin cancer rates in the world. According to the latest statistics from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, however, they’ve still got a long way to go when it comes to protecting their eyes from UV damage.
Last summer, only around six in ten Australians reported wearing sunglasses outdoors during peak UV exposure times (10 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Another survey from Specsavers reveals that only 22% of the country dons them year-round. Unfortunately, the sun’s UV rays can cause irreversible eye damage, such as by spurring the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration to potentially cause blindness. In 2022, over 400 Aussies were even diagnosed with ocular melanoma—or skin cancer of the eye.
That said, the country urgently needs to improve its awareness of UV eye damage. One of the best ways to start is by learning more about sunglasses and how wearing them is one of the easiest yet most effective ways to protect the eyes.
Many may already be familiar with how sunnies filter out UV rays to prevent damage. However, Aussies may also want to pick up these little-known facts:
Not all sunglasses shield against the sun
Sunglasses don’t automatically block UV rays. In line with Australian/New Zealand Standards, tinted lenses have to be labelled as belonging to one of five categories. Frames with category ‘0’ or ‘1’ lenses are only considered ‘fashion spectacles’ because they provide no UV protection at all—even if they look like regular sunglasses. Instead, their lenses may simply be dark. That can be dangerous because they’ll effectively ‘turn off’ your eyes’ natural instinct to squint when it’s sunny outside. Your eyes will thus stay wide open and let more UV rays in. That said, you’ll want to wear sunglasses marked category ‘2’ or higher. For the best effect, make sure your pair comes with an additional ‘UV400 label,’ which will guarantee that its lenses can not only block UV radiation, but filter it out almost completely.
Polarisation is separate from UV protection
When the sun’s glare bounces off reflective surfaces like water, snow, buildings, cars, and roads, it can cause photokeratitis or ‘snow blindness.’ This condition can be painful and even result in temporary vision loss. Because polarised lens filters minimise glare, they’re another crucial sunglasses feature you’ll want to have. However, that’s all they do: block glare, not UV rays. If you want them in your sunglasses, you’ll thus want to get them from a brand that offers them on top of, not in lieu of, UV protection. On Oakley, all polarised sunglasses—without exception—use patented Plutonite® lenses that block out 100% UVA and UVB rays. From here, models like the Holbrook and Flak can come with Oakley’s unique PRIZM polarised lens technology as an add-on if you want it. Knowing the distinction between polarisation and UV protection can help you get the most effective sunglasses for your needs.
Oversized and wraparound frames work best
Even factors as simple as a sunglasses’ size can influence how well they can protect your eyes from UV damage. Oversized frames can cover more of your eye area and block the sun from more angles. Sportier, wraparound sunglasses, which often fit closer to the face and have lenses that extend from the eyes to the temples, offer similar benefits. One great example that combines the design principles of both frames is the Embellished Logo Acetate Wrap model from Dolce & Gabbana. With rhinestone ‘D’ and ‘G’ logos on the corners of the frames, these oversized sunglasses are considered exceptionally fashionable and have been worn by the likes of Britney Spears and Madonna. More importantly, however, their lenses offer 100% UV protection as standard. The size and shape of this model’s lenses and frames also allow it to reach both towards the temples and down to the apples of the cheeks, perfectly illustrating the comprehensive coverage oversized and wraparound frames provide.
Sunglasses shouldn’t be used alone
There’s one sunscreen myth that also applies to sunglasses: neither should be your only means of sun protection. That’s because they can’t entirely protect you from the sun on their own. Sunscreen, for example, can’t be directly applied to your eyes, even though they can also incur UV damage. In the same vein, sunglasses can’t shield your eyes from all angles—especially if you go out during the middle of the day and the sun’s shining directly overhead. That’s why you’ll want to wear sunglasses as part of Australia’s larger Slip, Slop, Slap, Seek, Slide campaign: slip on UV-protective clothing, slop on some sunscreen, slap on a hat with a brim at least 7.5 cm wide, seek shade, and slide on a pair of UV-blocking sunglasses. That way, you’ll cover all your bases when it comes to shielding not just your eyes, but the rest of your body from UV overexposure.
