Had a fun sail the other day in a solid 20-25 knot icey westerly. All was good but later that day my eyes were stinging and watering badly. This lasted for two days. They've come good now but it was a bit of a worry. Now, is a pair of decent sunglasses when sailing liable avoid this in the future? Never had my eyes sting like that before, and I sooner they never do again!
Any recommendations on a pair of water sunglasses? A mate said those Sea Specs are ok.
Cheers for any info.
Bunnings sunnies. $13 - tinted, UV protected, shatter proof safety glasses. You'll get different makes and models, depending on store and batch. Some of them look quite fashionable too.
Make sure you get ones that don't have a frame (ie: a mounded frame) as the frame causes blind spots.
The Seabreeze sunnies are great.. www.seabreeze.com.au/shop/scripts/prodView.asp?idproduct=25
Oakley Racing Jackets, interchangeable lenses. Cost a bit but aren't your eyes worth it!
Never go out without sunglasses, someone told me it can lead to cataract more easily when getting older.
I wear snow googles for windsurfing. I tried swimming googles before, and the straps will make you painful if you windsurf for the whole day.
I tried normal sunglasses before, but there is no anti-fog, and there is no straps
I found snow googles the best. Its large area protects more UV from the sun, and offer protection to the eyes on impact. During high speed, you don't know what might get you into your eyes if you fall into the water
A very useful but little known fact is that all eyeglasses sold in Australia and labeled 'Sunglasses' are required to have 100% UV blocking.
This means that the very cheapest sunglasses you can buy are just as protective as the most expensive when it comes to UV.
I buy the cheap safety sunglasses from the work safety equipment shop for less than $10 each (if I can't bot some free ones off Jimbob! 
)
I get nice soft silicon frame safety goggles from the same source, tinted for the sunny days and clear for the big dark storms to keep the sand and rain/hail out! 
All good info, thanks. Now tell me, how do you go about the lenses fogging, and water droplets? Saying, "Don't fall off" is not an option.
Snow goggles! never thought to try that, looks interesting, please tell us more, what are the problems? do they fill up with water?
Select to expand quotePhilSWR said..
All good info, thanks. Now tell me, how do you go about the lenses fogging, and water droplets? Saying, "Don't fall off" is not an option.
Ummmm, no idea, I thought that was just part and parcel. The old Oakley Water Jackets used to come with hydrophobic solution you could rub on, lasted about an hr then the water drops would finally stay there and it was a pain having to put it on when you were in a rush to get out on the water. It was probably just a bottle of Metho and they had a fancy name for it. The new Oakely Racing Jackets have little holes cut out around the edges to combat fogging and water rinsing but I find they still fog (in winter) but once you get moving they clear. I find the lighter lenses stay clearer for longer with the salt crystals than the darker lenses. They also come with a strap so they are secure on your head. Also good for bike riding and snow skiing with their little anti fog vents.
^^^ Smearing a drop of dishwashing detergent works on regular glasses/goggles to stop them from fogging...in the water it might not work, or might make some cool bubbles?
Select to expand quoteBeaglebuddy said..
Snow goggles! never thought to try that, looks interesting, please tell us more, what are the problems? do they fill up with water?
They do fill with water, if you don't want to fill with water, you are looking for swimming googles,
in my opinion, makes your head painful because of the over-tightening straps. The straps for snow googles are very comfortable
One good thing about swimming googles is some of them come with prescriptions for people who has short sight
Oakley Water Jackets,same as the Racing Jackets but with vents and a strap,discontinued but pop up on ebay sometimes.
All one piece,no hinges,great glasses
I use tinted safety glasses,(cheap ,no tears if lost) and drill a series of small holes along the top and bottom of the lenses -no fogging! -rubber retaining strap from Cape Patterson Mitre 10, -very relaxed eyes after a day of sunshine and salt water spray- no problemo
I find that the lenses of the tinted safety glasses I use are pretty hydrophobic, so the water just beads and is shed easily from the lens. Keeping them clean by rubbing a bit of dishwashing liquid on either side of the lens then rinsing well keeps them hydrophobic. Never had a problem with fogging.
And the other good thing about safety glasses is they are fairly close-fitting and wrap around the face well giving a wide angle of coverage.
Rain ex - makes the water form droplets and a flick of the head or hand will get rid of them..Not sure where I bought mine?
I've got the JP Glorify Sunnies, They are apparently unbreakable and float. I've not used them to sail but they are great sunnies and are light and comfortable, with a head strap I'm sure they'll be good on the water. 
I have been using Bolle Marine editions for a couple of years when its sunny. They have that hydrophobic stuff on the lenses and the water beads straight off. They don't fog up and come with a head strap that floats.
Get some cheapos, won't matter when you wipe out and lose them. You can also get a floaty strap for the back. Regardless, the wind, water and salt will give them a real workout, don't waste money on expensive ones.
