The brighter sun might be to do with the hole in the ozone layer as well!!!
Gran
I would like to add another bit to the “wrap” or eye-protection aspect.
I am about to have laser eye surgery to correct some of my vision problems. Laser eye surgery is basically a manipulation of a layer in the cornea, i.e. the eye’s top coating, after which the eyes often become more sensitive to light. Sooner or later in life many people will need cataract surgery, so I enquired whether LASIK surgery plus exposure to the harsh/bright sun in NZ would have an effect on post-refractive cataract surgery though of course I hope I won’t be up for it in the near future. The answer was that in any country where there is more/stronger/harsher sun light, the progression of cataract is accelerated and one would be well advised to wear sun glasses even in conditions when you would not normally consider it. This confirms what I have read in other forums where people who are slightly past their prime reported a surprisingly quick onset of a clouding of their lens, i.e. cataract, after moving to NZ.
Wearing sun glasses also helps prevent pterygium, a condition where excessive connective tissue grows and invades the cornea. It is found more frequently in NZ and other countries where people are exposed to excessive outdoor sun, often combined with exposure to sand and wind (beaches!).
So it’s a good idea to cover not only your skin but also your eyes.
Thanks to everyone who has contributed to this thread. Coming from a very sunny country where I hardly ever wear sunglasses I'm realising that it is crucial to do so in New Zealand. So we've bought hats. sunglasses and now all that remains is for our CO to come back to us with our interview results!
Excellent point Emka, Im actually finding myself wearing sunglasses in the UK during bright (not always sunny days) as my eyes are getting more sensitive as I get older. My pupils are larger than normal and even tho my (slightly) corrective glasses are photochromatic (light reactive) the modern frames are not big enough to stop me quinting on a bright day, so I wear sunglasses instead. Am gonna have to look into some serious eye protection before our move I think. Thanks Emka.
Exactly. The size of sun glasses is also an important point. Going for small diameter ones because they are “in” may be a valid choice criterion for the fashion conscious. But it misses the point if you want to give reasonably good protection to your eyes. Choosing larger frames with dark UV-protective glasses that prevent light from coming in from the sides or the top is just common sense but often disregarded because of a less attractive look.
And while I am aware that this is off topic and should go to the Health thread, just one more point for those who have already had laser eye surgery or are considering having it done before they move to NZ. This is again about future cataract surgery and planning ahead.
It is more difficult to determine the correct refractive value/parameters of the artificial lens for an eye that has had laser treatment because measuring the cornea becomes difficult as its shape has already been changed. There are different formulas for approximation and calculation, so it is not impossible for a skilled ophthalmologist to choose the right lens. But it is much easier and gives more precise results for him or her to work it out based on the patient’s documentation rather than starting from scratch. Therefore it is advisable to keep one’s pre-surgery eyeglass prescription and request a detailed medical report from the laser eye surgeon with the relevant data. It may come in handy in some 10, 20 or 30 years.