EYE PROTECTION
Protecting your eyes from sun damage
Don't forget your eyes when you're protecting yourself from the sun! Apart from the risk of cancer of the eyelid, ultraviolet radiation can also cause cataracts, a clouding in the lens of the eye, which obscures vision.
So how do I protect my eyes?
A good pair of sunglasses will decrease visible light to a comfortable level, while blocking UVR.
Adults and children should wear sunglasses meeting the AS 1067 standard, which will give your eyes substantial protection against UVR damage.
The standard defines five categories of lenses, which are listed in the table below:
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0
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Fashion spectacles
These are not sunglasses. They provide very low sun glare reduction, and only some UVR protection.
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1
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Fashion spectacles with limited sun glare reduction
These are not sunglasses. They provide only limited sun glare reduction, and some UV protection.
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2
|
Sunglasses with medium level sun glare reduction
These provide medium level sun glare reduction and good UV protection.
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3
|
Sunglasses with high level sun glare reduction
These provide high level sun glare reduction and good UV protection.
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4
|
Special purpose sunglasses
These are made for special purposes, with a very high level of sun glare reduction and good UV protection.
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Another measure is the Eye Protection Factor (EPF), developed by ARPANSA . Sunglasses can be rated from 1 to 10. Sunglasses with EPF values of 9 or 10 transmit almost zero UVR.
Wrap-around sunglasses are best, because they reduce the amount of radiation entering from the sides. And remember, the cost of a pair of sunglasses is not necessarily a good way to gauge the quality of their UVR protection. Also, don't assume that a pair of sunglasses with dark tinted lenses will provide the best protection. That's not always the case.
What should I look for in a pair of sunglasses?
- A label indicating that the sunglasses comply with the AS 1067 Standard category 2, 3 or 4
- A high EPF rating, preferably EPF 10
- Wrap-around style.
This information has been provided from the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency.