Sunglasses protect against visible and invisible components of light, primarily from ultraviolet rays, which cause a variety of eye diseases: snow blindness, photokeratitis, cataracts and others.
Much more common are UV 380 glasses, which filter only 95% of ultraviolet radiation.
Sunglasses are especially necessary for children, as their delicate lenses receive more ultraviolet radiation than adults.
Checking sunglasses
To check whether the glasses protect well, you need to measure them at the manufacturer or with special optical equipment. For example, manufacturers often mark standard UV protection ratings on their glasses.
The protection can only be directly checked by contact. The tighter the lenses of the glasses fit to the face (but not too tight so that the eyelashes do not touch the lenses), the less light they let in around the edges. Wide temples and leather trim can be used for the same purpose.
The protection of the lenses themselves is impossible to see. Wherein dark lenses do not always filter ultraviolet radiation better than light. It even happens the other way around - dark lenses dilate the pupils more than light ones, and more ultraviolet radiation gets into the eyes. But dark lenses actually filter ordinary visible light better than light ones.
UV protection also does not depend on the color of the lenses. But you can tell by the color whether they filter blue light. For example, blue And green lenses do not filter blue light, but yellow And brown- on the contrary, they filter too much, which leads to color distortion and can be dangerous when driving.
You can visually check for the presence of polarization: to do this, you need to look through your glasses at a reflective non-metallic horizontal surface and rotate them along the longitudinal axis. The intensity of the glare increases when the glasses are positioned vertically, and decreases (up to extinction) when positioned horizontally.
Degree of protection
- Light Category 1 80 - 43% light transmission - for wearing in cloudy weather and as a fashion accessory.
- Average Category 2 43 - 18% light transmission - suitable for wearing in the city and for driving a car.
- Strong Category 3 18 - 8% light transmission - for protection from bright daytime sun.
- Maximum 4 category 8 - 3% light transmission - for maximum protection in high altitude conditions, at ski resorts, in the snowy arctic in summer. They are not intended for driving a car, as they are difficult to see when moving from light to shadow.
- Outside the norm - less than 3% - are extremely dark glacial glasses and special radiation protection glasses, such as welder's glasses.
Polarized lenses are made using substances that have the ability to filter out plane-polarized rays to reduce glare from a horizontal, or nearly horizontal, reflective surface (such as water, snow, wet asphalt) or diffuse sky light. These lenses can be made from glass, but are generally made from plastic, such as a Polaroid film coating. Polaroid film blocks 40-60% of light, so these glasses are also sunglasses.
Artificial lighting does not affect these lenses unless it contains the short ultraviolet waves that the sun emits. Lenses darken much less from visible light, so they are inconvenient for driving - car window glass does not transmit ultraviolet radiation. Photochromic lenses, otherwise called “chameleons,” darken from ultraviolet radiation. In a room where there is no ultraviolet light, they gradually become lighter. Photochromic lenses are made from glass, polycarbonate and other plastics.
Photochromic lenses usually darken and lighten in less than a minute, but the complete transition from one state to another occurs in 5 to 15 minutes.
The same lenses can simultaneously use coloring, polarization, gradation, photochromic effect and mirror coating in various combinations. Gradation or gradient darkening is when the lens is darker at the top and lighter at the bottom. Prescription glasses also come in dark enough or with a chameleon effect to be used as sunglasses. Instead, you can wear so-called attachment lenses- dark on top of optical or vice versa.
Lens color
Colored lenses are used to protect the eyes from too bright light. The color of the lenses depends on the model, style and purpose of use, most often used gray, green, brown And yellow colors.
Black and smoky lenses absorb; .
- Gray or smoky and grey-green Lenses absorb all colored rays almost equally, retain natural colors and are considered neutral.
- Greens Lenses were previously used everywhere, but it turned out that, while transmitting the brightest rays of the spectrum, they least reach the target. Now green lenses are used in special glasses for patients with glaucoma.
- Brown Lenses distort colors a little, but increase contrast.
- Blue And blue blue lenses block yellow and orange rays the most (the brightest); Lenses are used in medium to bright light as they increase contrast without distorting colors.
- Orange Lenses increase contrast and the sense of depth, but distort colors.
- Yellow also increase contrasts, but almost do not darken; Therefore, such lenses are used by those who need clearer vision in cloudy and foggy weather.
- Amber lenses are recommended in artificial light after dark.
- Pink do the world more colorful and sharpen the sharpness of contrasts (the famous phrase “rose-colored glasses”)
- Purple lenses are most often used simply for beauty.
- When working with a computer, you can use slightly darkened lenses to increase contrast.
- Transparent Lenses are used to protect the eyes from wind, dust and chemicals. Some glasses come with interchangeable lenses so they can be used in dim morning and evening light as well as bright midday.
In My OPTICS you can test your sunglasses for ultraviolet ray transmission for FREE.
Selecting sunglasses is an important and difficult task. If you think that it's only about fashion brands, then you are very mistaken. Did you know that when going for a walk around the city on a sunny day and packing your suitcases for a seaside holiday, you should take different sunglasses?
Everyone knows that sunlight contains ultraviolet rays that are harmful to humans, from which we need to protect ourselves. Do you think that glasses save you from them? Not at all. Ultraviolet rays such as UVA and UVB are completely blocked by ordinary transparent glass and some types of plastic. There is also a third type of UV rays, “C,” but the ozone layer of the earth’s atmosphere successfully copes with it. By the way, since we are talking about ultraviolet radiation, reflective surfaces greatly increase the harmful effect of UV rays. That is why it is easy to get sunburned in the mountains and at sea (snow reflects light by 90%, water surface by 70%), but on the shore of a forest lake or river it is difficult (the reflective ability of green grass is only 30%). All these radiations are not visible, but only perceptible. And dark glasses of sunglasses are designed to save our eyes from the visible part of the harmful sunlight. It is the visible bright light that makes us squint our eyes and “make faces,” even if not on purpose.
So, all sunglasses have a filter designed to varying degrees illumination In total, there are 5 degrees of protection for our eyes, and on the product of a responsible manufacturer, the category of sunglasses filter is indicated by the corresponding number.
- “0” means that the lenses of the glasses transmit 80–100% of the light. This is the lowest level of protection; such glasses are only suitable on a cloudy day.
- “1” – 43–80% light transmission. Ideal for days when dense clouds give way to clear skies, that is, for partly cloudy weather and only for the city.
- “2” transmit 18–43% of light and are also suitable for city life. A bright sunny day, a walk to the shops - these are ideal conditions for putting on glasses marked “2”.
- "3". Light transmittance - 8–18%. Sunglasses with filter categories “1” and “2” are suitable for everyday city life, and only these, marked “3”, can and should be chosen for a trip to the sea. Such protection will withstand both sunbathing on the beach and sailing on a yacht.
- “4” means the highest degree of protection of the retina from damaging light. Throughput 3–8%. The choice of such filters for glasses belongs to climbers and tourists climbing mountains.
As you can see, choosing glasses is not so easy. It is unlikely that you should expect the required amount important information about each item of goods on street trays, where not every unit of goods has packaging. Having only once tried to trust a real high-quality company producing sun protection products, you are unlikely to want to return to a suspicious market assortment. Ours could be one of the best purchases of your life. The world-famous RB brand has already made the lives of millions of people brighter and their views safer.
Take advantage of the best, because you are already with us!
At all times, people tried to protect their eyes from direct exposure sun rays: in China, the face was covered with wide-brimmed hats, in Japan, fabric blindfolds with slits were put on the eyes, into which mica was inserted, and in India, they were covered with silk strips impregnated with resin. Real sunglasses appeared 200 years ago, and they were intended for soldiers of Napoleon's army.
Why do you need sunglasses?
The main purpose of sunglasses is to protect your eyes from direct sunlight.
What is the danger of such exposure?
Sunlight consists of a collection ultraviolet And infrared rays of different lengths. And, if infrared rays are mainly scattered in atmospheric moisture, then ultraviolet rays with a length of 280 to 380 nanometers reach the ground, they are absorbed by the lens, which, while protecting the retina, itself suffers:
- Over the years, the proteins in the lens begin to lose their natural structure and begin to become cloudy, leading to the development of cataracts.
- The ability of the lens to focus on close objects is also lost, its elasticity decreases, which leads to the development of farsightedness.
We will tell you what specifications pay attention to sun protection optics so that you can choose glasses that will protect your eyes from exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
Glass or plastic?
Despite the fact that glass lenses do not transmit ultraviolet rays at all, 95% of modern manufacturers prefer special plastic:
- Glasses with plastic lenses are lightweight.
- They are not traumatic, which is especially important if you choose models for children and drivers.
Be careful! Whatever material you choose to make sunglasses from (glass or plastic), their main task is protection from ultraviolet rays, and whether the glasses will reliably protect your eyes does not depend in any way on the color of the lenses.
Dark lenses or light ones?
Lenses can be both dark and transparent, but they will absorb ultraviolet rays equally well only if they are covered with a special ultraviolet filter on top.
Manufacturers of high-quality sunglasses carefully monitor this and always indicate the degree of ultraviolet protection in the labeling.
If you see a sign on the temples of your glasses or in their documents "UV400", this means that these are high-quality sunglasses.
The number 400 in the marking was not chosen by chance. It means that ultraviolet waves, the length of which is measured in nanometers and equal to 400 units, will not penetrate the protective coating. In cheap glasses, the lenses are only colored, darkened, and not covered with a special filter.
The pupil under dark lenses expands, ultraviolet rays easily penetrate under the darkened lenses and are absorbed by the lens, which is very dangerous for vision.
Be sure to pay attention to Will glasses protect you from ultraviolet radiation?, and only then choose degree of light transmission of lenses- their shading. Special markings will also tell you about this; as a rule, on the temple of such glasses there may be the following inscription: “ Cat. 3" or " Filter cat. 3».
Classification of glasses according to the degree of light transmission
- Glasses with 0 degree of light transmission almost transparent. They transmit from 80 to 100% of sunlight. They are recommended for sports activities in the absence of bright light.
- Glasses with 1st and 2nd degree of light transmission transmit from 43 to 80% and from 18 to 43% of light, respectively. They are recommended to be worn in low to medium sunlight.
- Glasses with 3 degrees of light transmission should be chosen to be worn in very bright sunshine.
- For our latitudes in the hot summer, the optimal choice would be glasses with 2-3 degrees of light transmission.
- For spring and early summer mornings, glasses of 1-2 degrees of light transmission are ideal.
- If you decide to conquer mountains, then choose the darkest category 4 glasses.
Once again, we emphasize that the degree of shading of the lenses does not in any way affect their properties of protection from ultraviolet radiation. But the color and size of the lenses determines whether the eyes will feel comfortable.
Lens color and size
Not all colors and shapes of lenses will be comfortable for the eyes.- Thus, our experts advise you to opt for glasses with brown, green or gray shades of lenses, which are considered the most pleasing to the eye, and you should be extremely careful when choosing models with colored lenses.
- Drivers are advised to choose glasses with gradient lenses that are darker on top than on the bottom.
- Pay attention to the lens size. They must be big. It is not recommended to choose glasses with narrow lenses. The whole point of UV protection in this case is lost, because small lenses transmit rays through unobstructed areas and limit the field of view.
- Glasses should sit comfortably on your face, fit against it, but not squeeze your temples or put pressure on the bridge of your nose. This may cause headache and fatigue.
Quality issue
Information about the quality of the materials used can always be found on the label, which indicates what the lenses are made of, as well as from the markings on the frame or from the product passport.
The abbreviations 89/686/EEC, ANSI Z80.3, AS 1067, EN 1836 mean that the glasses are of high quality and the materials used for their manufacture meet global safety standards.
High-quality glasses are always equipped with instructions that describe all the features of the model you have chosen.
You can also check the quality of the lenses by contacting the specialists of the Glasses and Fashion salon on the street. Vasenko, 4, where using an optical device - a spectrophotometer or calorimeter - you can verify the safety of the sunglasses you choose.
It is better not to wear glasses at all than to wear low-quality models. Only wearing glasses with UV protection will protect your eyes. This is the first and most important thing you should pay attention to when choosing a quality product. How dark the glasses will be and what shape they will have is a matter of taste.
For many people, sunglasses are an everyday accessory that allows them to highlight their style and create the desired look. However, we should not forget that these optical products perform another important function- eye protection from ultraviolet radiation. Let's consider what determines the degree of blocking of UV radiation in sunglasses.
Currently, the ophthalmic products market offers a wide selection of sunglasses. The assortment is replete with popular brands, a variety of shapes, designs and colors. However, when purchasing eyeglasses, you need to take into account not only the decorative component, but also the protective properties of the lenses. It is important that the correction agent provides required level protection of the organs of vision from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays.
Many people are interested in how to choose sunglasses based on the type of protection. We suggest you look into this issue.
Should you protect your eyes from ultraviolet radiation?
To understand whether it is worth protecting your eyes from exposure to sunlight, you need to understand their types, the nature of their occurrence and the impact on the human visual organs. Up to 40% of radiation is classified as visible and allows us to distinguish colors. About 50% of the sun's rays are infrared. They allow you to feel warmth. And finally, 10% of the sun's rays are ultraviolet radiation, which is invisible to human eyes. According to the wavelength, it is divided into several subcategories (long wavelength - UVA, medium wavelength - UVB, and short wavelength - UVC).
Types ultraviolet radiation:
- UVA - is in the range of 400-315 nm. Mainly reaches the surface of the Earth;
- UVB - is in the range of 315-280 nm. Mainly retained by the atmosphere, but partially reaches the Earth's surface;
- UVC - is in the range of 280-100 nm. It practically does not reach the surface of the Earth (it is retained by the ozone layer).
Do you need glasses to protect your eyes from UV rays?
Ophthalmologists say that in moderate quantities, ultraviolet light is beneficial for the body, as it helps strengthen the immune system, improve body tone and even improve mood. Under the influence of UV rays in the eye, metabolism and blood circulation are stimulated, and muscle function is improved. In addition, the body produces vitamin D, which strengthens the musculoskeletal system, and produces histamine, a substance that has a vasodilating effect.
However, with intense exposure, ultraviolet rays have a detrimental effect on the body, including the organs of vision. The lens captures long-wave UV radiation, gradually losing transparency and acquiring a yellowish tint.
In 50% of cases, in the absence timely treatment this eye disease is a cause of blindness. The mucous membrane of the eye and cornea absorb mid-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVB), which can significantly damage their structure with intense exposure. Using sun protection accessories avoids this problem.
To make a smart purchase, you need to decide what kind of UV protection your sunglasses should have. This factor should be given primary attention when purchasing these products.
Why you should protect your eyes from intense ultraviolet radiation:
- The lens captures long-wave UV radiation, gradually losing transparency and acquiring a yellowish tint. This can lead to cataracts;
- The cornea absorbs mid-wave ultraviolet radiation (UVB), losing its optical properties.
What kind of protection should sunglasses have?
Many people do not know how to determine the level of protection of sunglasses and mistakenly believe that the darker the lenses, the better they block UV rays. However, it is not. Clear lenses can absorb harmful radiation just as well as dark lenses if a special coating is applied to their surface. Moreover, the pupil under dark lenses dilates, so in the absence of a filter, ultraviolet rays are easily absorbed by the lens.
Products from world-famous brands must have special markings indicating the degree of protection. Spectacle optics marked “UV400” are considered to be of the highest quality. It filters up to 99% of UVA ultraviolet light with a wavelength of up to 400 nm. However, it should be taken into account that when regularly wearing such glasses in the summer, a “mask” is formed on the face, since the skin around the eyes does not tan. Much more common are products labeled UV 380, which filter only 95% of UV rays. Inexpensive products provide blocking of 50% of radiation. All products that capture less than 50% of ultraviolet rays do not protect the eyes from them. negative impact. Often they are used only for decorative purposes.
Sometimes there is a marking that indicates the degree of protection from both UVA and UVB rays: “Blocks at least 80% UVB and 55% UVA.” This means that the filter applied to the surface prevents the penetration of up to 80% of UVB rays and up to 55% of UVA rays.
Doctors advise choosing products where both indicators are above 50%.
In addition, there is another option for marking glasses:
- Cosmetic. Optical products that block less than 50% of UV radiation. These glasses are not recommended for use on sunny days, as they do not protect the eyes from the sun;
- General - universal products with UV filters that block from 50 to 80% of UV rays. Such glasses can be used for everyday eye protection in the city, at mid-latitudes;
- High UV-protection - models with enhanced UV filters that block almost 99% of ultraviolet radiation. They can be used on a bright sunny day in the mountains, near the water, etc.
How to choose sunglasses based on darkness?
Once you have decided on the degree of protection of your glasses from exposure to ultraviolet radiation, you need to select their level of light transmission, or darkness. This parameter will determine how brightly you can perceive the world around you. Typically, this marking is located on the temple of the glasses and consists of two components: the model name and the darkness rating, for example, “Cat. 3" or "Filter cat. 3".
Classification of sunglasses by darkness:
- Marking (0). These products are almost completely transparent. It transmits from 80 to 100% of visible sunlight. These glasses are recommended for use by athletes when exercising in the absence of bright light.
- Marking (1,2). This optics has light transmission from 43 to 80%, and from 18 to 43% of light, respectively. This best option for wearing in low to medium sunlight.
- Marking (3,4). These glasses should be used in very bright sunshine.
In the hot summer, for our latitudes, the optimal choice would be optical products with 2 and 3 degrees of light transmission. For use on summer mornings, as well as in spring and autumn, models with 1-2 degrees of darkening are suitable. Glasses with index 4 are recommended for travelers to wear in extreme conditions, for example, when conquering mountains.
It should be clarified once again that the degree of darkness has nothing to do with protecting the eyes from the adverse effects of ultraviolet rays. This indicator exclusively affects the brightness of image perception and the wearing comfort of optical products.
What other protection could glasses have?
Modern manufacturers of sunglasses make sure that their products are as comfortable, practical and durable as possible to use. Therefore, in addition to an ultraviolet filter, additional coatings are often applied to the surface of products.
- Polarizing filter. Completely blocks glare - rays reflected from horizontal surfaces (water, snowy field, car hood, etc.);
- Anti-glare coating. Cuts off some types of solar glare, increasing comfort of use;
- Mirror coating. As a rule, it is applied to one degree or another on all glasses. Reflects visible sunlight, providing additional comfort to the eye;
- Abrasion resistant coating. Increases stability spectacle lenses to the emergence mechanical damage(scratches, cracks, etc.);
- Melanin coating. Apply to inner side lenses to prevent eye fatigue.
- Gradient coating. Allows you to increase safety while driving. The upper, darker part of the lenses provides good visibility when looking at the road. In turn, the light bottom of the lenses contributes to good review dashboard.
We recommend that you familiarize yourself with the wide selection of glasses and contact correction products on the website. We offer you high-quality products from world brands at competitive prices. With us you can easily place an order and receive the goods in the shortest possible time!
