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Do I need power sunglasses in Goa?

Goa's sunlight is strong for most of the year, and the sea, the sand and wet roads after rain bounce it back into the eyes. Fishermen, port and construction workers, traffic police, delivery riders and anyone who spends a day at Bogmalo or Baina beach get a lot of sun on their eyes. Good sunglasses make outdoor life more comfortable and protect the eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays.

Why sun protection matters for the eyes

Over many years, UV exposure is linked with:

• Cataract, the clouding of the eye's natural lens. See cataract surgery in Vasco.
• Pterygium, a fleshy, wing-shaped growth on the white of the eye that can creep onto the cornea.
• Pinguecula, a yellowish raised spot on the white of the eye.
• Growths on the eyelid skin, which is thin and often missed by sunscreen.

A single day of very strong exposure, for example on the water or the beach without protection, can also cause a painful "sunburn" of the cornea a few hours later, with red, gritty, watering eyes. Glare itself makes you squint, tires the eyes and makes it harder to see while riding or driving.

Pterygium and life on Goa's coast

Pterygium is common in sunny coastal places, and sun, wind, dust and salt spray are all thought to play a part. People who work outdoors or ride scooters every day are more exposed. Wearing sunglasses and a cap with a brim may lower your exposure, although they cannot promise that a pterygium will not develop. If you already have one, sunglasses help with comfort, and after pterygium surgery the eye doctor usually advises protection from the sun. ReNew Vision provides pterygium surgery; see our eye specialities.

What to look for in sunglasses

• UV protection: a label saying UV400, or that the lenses block both UVA and UVB. Lens darkness says nothing about UV protection. Dark lenses without a UV filter make the pupils open wider, which can let more UV into the eye than wearing no sunglasses at all.
• Coverage: larger lenses and frames that curve round the sides block light from the edges as well as the front.
• Lens quality: hold the sunglasses at arm's length and look at a straight line, such as a door frame, while moving them. If the line bends or wobbles, the lenses are distorted.
• Impact resistance: polycarbonate lenses are tough and block UV by themselves, which suits sport and children.

Polarised lenses

Polarised lenses cut the bright, flat glare reflected from water, wet roads and car bonnets. They make a real difference on boats, at the beach and when driving in daytime. They do have drawbacks: phone screens, some car dashboards and ATM screens can look dark or patchy through them at certain angles. Polarisation and UV protection are separate features, so check that a polarised lens also blocks UV.

Lens colour and darkness

• Grey lenses keep colours natural and suit general use.
• Brown or amber lenses increase contrast, which some people like for driving and on hazy days.
• Green lenses give a balance of natural colour and contrast.
• Gradient lenses are darker at the top and lighter at the bottom, useful for driving because the dashboard stays visible.

Very dark lenses suit the beach and the sea, but are too dark for driving at dusk. No sunglasses should be worn for driving or riding at night.

Power sunglasses: your options

• Sunglasses with your distance power: the most common choice. The lenses are made to your prescription and then tinted or polarised.
• Bifocal or progressive sunglasses: possible for many people over 40 who want to read a phone or map outdoors.
• Photochromic lenses: clear indoors and darker outdoors, but they darken less inside a car and in hot weather. See types of spectacle lenses.
• Clip-on sun lenses: fit over your spectacles. Convenient, but they cover less of the eye and can scratch your lenses.
• Contact lenses with plain sunglasses: an option for contact lens wearers.

Strongly curved wrap-around frames do not suit every prescription. The Vision Correction Centre will tell you what can be made for your power. Power sunglasses start with an up-to-date eye test.

Sunglasses for children

Children spend a lot of time outdoors, and the lens inside a child's eye lets more UV light through to the back of the eye than an adult's does. A hat with a brim and sunglasses with UV400 lenses help, especially at the beach. Avoid toy sunglasses that have no UV label. Choose impact-resistant lenses in a flexible frame.

Riding and driving

On a scooter, sunglasses also keep out wind and dust. Do not wear dark sunglasses under an already tinted helmet visor; together they can make the road too dark. Take sunglasses off when you ride into shade or a tunnel, and never wear them at night.

Never look at the sun

Sunglasses do not make it safe to look directly at the sun, including during an eclipse. Looking at the sun can burn the retina and cause permanent damage to central vision. Sudden loss of vision always needs urgent care; ReNew Vision provides emergency eye care 24 hours a day.

Caring for sunglasses in Goa

Rinse sunglasses in plain water after the beach to remove salt and sand before wiping them, and never leave them on a car dashboard in the sun, where the heat can damage coatings and frames. Keep them in a hard case in your bag. More tips are in our guide to spectacle care in humid weather.

Sunglasses at ReNew Vision

The Vision Correction Centre of ReNew Vision Eye Hospital, on the 2nd floor of the Pai Hospital building in Vaddem, Vasco, provides plain and power sunglasses. The eye OPD is open Monday to Saturday, 4 pm to 7 pm. Call or WhatsApp 072489 88039 with any questions.

Questions patients ask

Are darker sunglasses more protective?

Not necessarily. UV protection comes from a filter in or on the lens, not from how dark it looks. Dark lenses without UV protection can let more UV into the eye, because the pupils open wider behind them. Check for a UV400 or UVA and UVB label.

What does UV400 mean on sunglasses?

It means the lenses block ultraviolet light with wavelengths up to 400 nanometres, which covers both UVA and UVB rays. It is the label to look for in sunglasses for Goa's strong sun.

Are polarised sunglasses worth having?

They are very helpful against glare from the sea, wet roads and car bonnets. The trade-off is that phone and some dashboard screens can look dark through them. Make sure polarised lenses also block UV.

Do children need sunglasses?

Children spend a lot of time outdoors and their eyes let more UV through than adult eyes. A hat with a brim and UV400 sunglasses with impact-resistant lenses are sensible, especially at the beach.

Can sunglasses prevent pterygium?

They may lower your exposure to sun, wind and dust, which are linked with pterygium, but they cannot promise that one will not develop. If you notice a growth on the white of your eye, have it checked by an eye doctor.

This page is general eye-health information, not personal medical advice. Your eye doctor advises you after examining your eyes.