Ski & Category 4

Choosing Ski Eyewear

For anyone going skiing, snowboarding or even hiking at high altitude it’s essential to wear goggles or good quality sunglasses because on mountains the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays are easily underestimated, with a high risk of sunburn and potentially skin cancer (including cancer of the eyelids) and eye cataracts. Because mountain air is cool, it gives a false sense of security about the sunlight. But the higher the altitude, the greater the ultraviolet radiation (UVR), because there is less atmosphere to screen out the harmful rays. Research has shown that eyes can receive up to 2.5 times more UVR on mountains than at sea level. Even when the eyes are turned away from the sun, they can still get over 85 per cent more UVR on snow. This can cause conditions such as snow blindness, which can lead to inflammation and cataracts.

As the eye cannot see UVR, good quality goggles and sunglasses have an important function in blocking UVR. Wearing cheap eyewear with no UV filters poses an even greater danger than wearing none at all because the pupils will dilate allowing more harmful rays into the eye. So always ensure the goggles or sunglasses you buy are UV400 rated providing the maximum protection from harmful UVR and are UKCA/CE marked. It’s also worth noting that the lens colour and tint has nothing to do with the UV protection as the UV filter applied to lenses is actually clear. So lighter coloured lenses like orange and rose can still be UV400 rated.

Ski goggles can restrict peripheral vision and not all skiers like the “enclosed” feel of ski goggles, preferring to wear sunglasses or smaller, more compact goggles: it is estimated that 1 in 5 helmet wearers use sunglasses not goggles. And skiers that are not intending to tackle black runs all day, being content with more “sedate” skiing, can quite happily get by with good quality sunglasses. However even at moderate speed cold wind can cause the eyes to water so that’s why a model with a wrap-around  (sports) frame is preferred, as they will keep out wind, sun glare and UVR.

Lens tints & colours

This can be very confusing but the following is a general guide applying to goggles and sunglasses. At very high altitude (above 2000 metres) glare can be intense so it’s worth ensuring you have Category 4 dark lenses. At lower levels it really depends on the conditions: in bright sunny conditions with clear skies, grey or brown (Category 3) lenses are good and polarised lenses will also help as they minimise the glare that reflects off the ski slope. See also our Fishing & Polarised-Leisure sections to view all our polarised options.

In cloudy, dull and overcast conditions and when there is “flat light”; orange, rose and light brown lenses will be preferable. For this reason interchangeable, multi lens sets can be a good option as they will include both dark and lighter lenses to cope with all conditions. A good selection of multi-lens sets can be seen here – Multi-Lens Eyewear Sets – Evolution Sunglasses.