Study and analysis of the deterioration of sunglasses by artificial solar irradiation stressing

• Grant number: 11/06079-2
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: November 01, 2011
• End date: December 31, 2013
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Biomedical Engineering - Medical Engineering
• Principal Investigator: Liliane Ventura Schiabel
• Grantee: Liliane Ventura Schiabel
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil

Abstract

The exposition of the eye to ultraviolet irradiation may cause several ocular diseases (corneal irritation, cataract, retinal damages) if the UVA and UVB protection to the cornea is not effective. To wear sunglasses with inapropriate protection may harm the ocular medium, since as a dark lens is positioned previously to the eye, the pupils do not contract at sun light, as they naturally do. As they keep open, the light rays that are transmitted through the lenses get into the eye. If the sunglasses are not properly protectes from the UV light, this radiation reach the inner ocular structures being harmful.The Brazilian standards for sunglasses (NBR15111/2004)requires protection for the 280-380nm range of the UV spectrum, according too the categories of the sunglasses (0-4). In 2010, I was part of the reviewers for the Brazilian standard, and we have observed that some of the parameters should be best suited for our country, according to the intensity of UV radiation that there is in Brazil which is a continental sized country. The Brazilian standard is based on the European standard EN1836/2005, and some of the items should be revisited in order to be effectively protective to our population. Among several items to be revisited, two of them are fundamental for the ocular protection: the UV transmittance and the optical quality of the lenses pre and post ultraviolet irradiation artificial aging (stressing) of the lenses. These studies provide means for the individual to be acknowledged about the UV protection and optical quality of their sunglasses and if these features will last for a period required by the standards. In this sense, seeking for improving the studies on sunglasses in order to contribute to the brazilian standard NBR15111, this work proposes the analysis of the sunglasses of the UVA and UVB transmittances, the optical propertires (spherical and prismatic powers) and the resistance to impact. All of these tests should be performed previously and post the irradiation stressing test wiht solar simulator. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

MELLO, MARCIO M.; LINCOLN, VICTOR A. C.; VENTURA, LILIANE. Self-service kiosk for testing sunglasses. BIOMEDICAL ENGINEERING ONLINE, v. 13, APR 25 2014. (11/06079-2)