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24 | Gazette Life | August 2025It's not just your skin you need to protect in Lanzarote's fierce summer sunshine. Your eyesight can also be seriously affected.In August, ultra violet (UV) light levels are at their maximum on Lanzarote. The highest levels on the WHO's UV Index are 11 and 12, both described as %u201cextreme%u201d, and Lanzarote is consistently within this band throughout July and August.UV overexposure can cause eye problems such as photokeratitis, pterygium, and pinguecula; and can accelerate macular degeneration and the formation of cataracts. There is also the risk of skin cancer on eyelids, and faster wrinkling caused by frequent squinting in the sun.Lanzarote islanders have known about this for centuries. Holidaymakers sometimes wonder why locals insist on dining indoors even when there's a terrace available, or why many Spanish homes close their shutters and stay dark and shady during the daytime. It's simple %u2013 to stay out of the sun.The traditional costumes of field workers are long-sleeved, with long trousers and skirts covering almost all skin, and wide-brimmed sombreros or palm-leaf hats, often teamed with face scarfs and bandannas. Again, the aim is to avoid exposure at all costs.A floppy hat or a peaked cap is a good way to keep eyes shaded, but on Lanzarote you are likely to experience reflected UV if you're near the pool or the sea, and the island's brilliant white architecture doesn't help, either.GAZETTE | HEALTHEasy on theEyesThat's why sunglasses are much more than a fashion accessory on Lanzarote. You need a good pair %u2013 forget about the %u20ac10 ones in the souvenir shops, and look for good quality UV protective sunglasses that block out 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation. Wrap-around shades are the best, but any good pair will hugely increase protection.Don't forget that the level of protection given by sunglasses has nothing to do with their darkness. Darker glasses can help soothe tired or sore eyes, but they do not increase UV protection.While summer is the worst time for sun damage, on Lanzarote it's very much a year-round risk. In winter, sunlight arrives at lower angles, making sunglasses vital for driving and outdoor activities.Finally, make sure children are protected. Children have clearer lenses in their eyes than adults, meaning more UV light reaches their retinas. Just as with sunburn, the effects may only be experienced many years later, but they are real.