How does one go about preventing the sort of eye injuries/ disease created by repeated exposure to sun, sand and salt water and occasional board spearing commonly seen amongst Kitesurfers, Windsurfers and Surfers.
Injuries that can ultimately cause loss of sight or worse death from eye related cancers.

Kitesurfing generally requires Sunglasses.
On the WestCoast the afternoon seabreeze is in the afternoon and one is always staring straight into the suns rays and reflection of the water. Couple that with the constant salt water spray, sunburn cream running into your eyes and no wonder ones eyes feel sore after a good session.

There's a simple solution and its not expensive.

Go to the hardware store or on line and buy a pair of smoke tinted or polarised safety glasses. The cheaper kind that cost anywhere from $5 - $12.
Put a rubber strap onto the sides pieces so that a full on face-plant crash wont rip them off (comfortably tight). Silicon rubber tube will also help them float and also stop sharp ear pieces poking your eye.

The important points when buying these sunglasses is:

Look for Australian Standard rated Safety Glasses, usually Lexan.
Wrap around and close fitting that stops side sun and water from running into your eyes from forehead.
One piece with incorporated nose piece and lenses.
DONT buy glasses with non incorporated lenses and nose pieces as they just pop out or fall off during crashes (Fashion sunnies are generally no good).
The hinge is important piece that usually fails first from breakage or corrosion. The simpler the better. In fact I super glue the hinges so they are permanently positioned.
If you can get polarised then all the better they help one see the Big Whites that may lurk beneath, but are harder to find in the cheaper brands.

Last tip is to buy some windscreen water repellant "Rainex" the type found in Autostores. Put a few drops onto a tissue and rub onto lens. Do it quickly and don't let it dry. Polish off quickly. Do both sides and don't leave on wet as it will damage lens and plastic. This will make the lens hyrophobic and water will just bead and run off and only need to be done every couple months.

Now you have a pair of effective sunnies that not only will help protect your eyes whilst kiting/sailing but will cost you very little. If your lucky you may even find some that actually looks OK on the water.
They can also be used surfing but you must tie them to you wetsuit zip as they have the tendency to be pushed up off your face during really bad wipeouts.

Please share your experiences with this issue.

Here's a typical example found at Hardware stores.





If you have to wear glasses consider the use of Contacts in combination with sunnies which should stop them from being flushed out.

Sites to buy:
www.maximumsafety.com.au/vallen-saturn-safety-spectacles-p/valp%20saturn%20parent.htm?1=1&CartID=0

shop.fuglies.com.au/slipovers.html

Or you could have put a link to the same thread in the kite forum without starting all over again...

most daily contact lenses offer UV 30 protection.
i surf with mine in and hardly ever loose them.

mind you when i was kiting i used to use sunnies too

Stuthepirate said...

I was 26 when i had my first pterygium removed.
I was in the ocean and sailing on the river for 20yrs and know one had ever mentioned the word to me.
My Doctor told me the sun, glare and salt water, also sunburn on the eyes will cause this.
To remove it i had my eye braced open [clockwork orange style]. Sat down in a dentist's chair with the surgeon over the top of my head.
Drops were then given to numb my eye for the friggin needle he was about to jab into it. Drops didn't numb it enough i reckon.
I think i should tell you that i had to be awake for the whole procedure due to the position of the growth.
I couldn't feel him filleting the flesh off, but i could feel the scalpel handle going back and forth on my eyebrow which the Dr was using to steady his hand.
After every 2 slices he'd tug the freshly incised flesh up and all my vision went pink as the blood flowed over my eye.
the stitches were a lot of fun. The front of my eye was numb so i couldn't fell him using the needle and thread, but every time he tightened the knot i could feel my eyeball moving around in it's socket from all the tugging.
7 days of infuriating scratching from the stitches on my eyelid and they dissolved leaving me once again with a good eye.
Many happy memories.
Better than being blind but

farrking FULL ON !!!!

that sounds harsh!!