KEY POINTS:
Spending a small fortune on eyewear is no longer solely the domain of Hollywood starlets, with style-conscious Kiwis splashing out hundreds, even thousands, on the latest designer shades.
But if it's sun protection rather than fashion kudos you're after this summer, go ahead and buy those petrol station cheapies: they are probably just as good. Eye health experts told the Herald on Sunday that inexpensive lenses offered sun protection equal to, and in some cases greater than, shades costing 10 or 20 times the price.
The Consumer's Institute tested a dozen pairs of cheap lenses. With an average price of $13, all offered 99 per cent UV protection, despite some of the cheapies having no brand name or consumer safety labelling.
Wilson Sue, vice-president of the Optometrist Association, said a $20 pair of snug wraparounds from a chemist were likely to be safer than a pair of funky Miu Miu's with graduated lenses worth $400. "Graduated tints don't block the reflected light from the road surface or ground."
He said the more coverage around the eyes, the better. Lenses should be dark enough so "you can't see your pupils when you look at yourself in the mirror", but not so dark they impaired your vision.
This summer's hottest style, the retro Ray Ban, didn't offer the wearer as much sun protection as the wraparound or shield styles, because of its "smaller shape, with gaps".
While price was not necessarily a reliable indicator of sunglass safety, it paid to know what you were buying. The Australasian standards for sunglass manufacturers are not mandatory - Sue advised consumers to be wary of glasses without compliance stickers. "Sunglasses on sale, like at the $2 Shop, may not comply with the standard."
He said ozone layer-deprived Kiwis were at high risk of developing sun-related eye problems such as cataracts or macular degeneration. "We spend a lot of time outdoors."
Eye conditions were especially prevalent in Maori and Pacific Islanders, or people who tended not to wear sunscreen or take sun-safety precautions, he said. While darker skin types could offer more natural protection from the sun's cancer-causing rays, the whites of the eyes remained vulnerable.
Cath Chittenden of the Cancer Society said cancer inside the eye was rare. But a large number of cancers formed on the eyelid, or around the eye.
She said price was "definitely not an indicator" in determining which sunnies were the safest. "Warehouse ones can be as effective as a pair of Serengetis."
She also suggested staying away from the "cheap cheap ones" which did not comply with the Australasian standard. "Your eyes are too precious not to know [whether they meet standard]."
Fashion for a fortune
Credited with helping to prevent sun-burned eyeballs, and the onset of cataracts and cancer later in life, sunglasses are an essential facial health accessory.
They're also a major fashion craze - whether they are jewel-encrusted and ridiculously oversized a la Nicole Richie, or use Nasa-developed lens technology. Sunglass retailers spoken to by the Herald on Sunday said customers now spent an average of $300-$400 a pair without flinching.
Eyewear with a hefty pricetag, like Dolce and Gabbana and Prada, is becoming increasingly popular, says Anand Mitha, manager of Sunglass Hut in Queen St, Auckland. "More styles are coming into the country, and people have become more fashion-conscious."
The average customer was spending around $100-$150 more than two years ago, he said.
Some splashed out $955 for Bulgari's limited edition Swarovski crystal-studded frames, while the cheapest glasses in store were Oakleys at $139.
Mitha said the ozone hole in this part of the world also had Kiwis asking more questions about sun protection and factoring that into their choice of shades.
The Revo retro aviators, with advanced polarised technology "tested/developed by Nasa", were popular, he said.
All glasses sold in the store complied with the voluntary Australasian standard for UV protection, he said, although some lenses, like the $955 Bulgaris, did not score well for glare.
