With so many different styles and brands of sunglasses, including Oakley, Ray-Bans and Sungod, sunglasses have become more of a fashion accessory than an essential piece of eyewear. But the latter is their more significant purpose!
Sunglasses are designed to help us see clearly and comfortably in bright settings. The tint in the lens helps sharpen focus and enhance colours. A photochromic lens blocks any blinding glare, and Transitions® allows us to move easily from different environments without disturbing our view.
These types of sunglasses are great, but to fulfil their primary purpose of protecting our eyes, they must also include UV protection lenses. If you’re buying sunglasses without UV protection, you’re wasting money and risking your eye health.
Why Do Our Eyes Need UV Protection?
When you’re relaxing on a sunbed by a pool on holiday, we apply sun cream to protect our skin and prevent it from burning. If we don’t, our skin becomes red, sore and itchy, making your chill time less enjoyable. It’s a similar thing with UV protection for our eyes.
Like your skin, your eyes can become dry, damaged, and irritable when exposed to too many UV rays. UV rays are invisible to the naked eye but extremely powerful. There are three types of UV rays, all of which can result in eye diseases:
1. Ultraviolet A (UVA) is the longest wavelength, which means it can burn or penetrate your eyes. Overexposure to UVA rays can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, photokeratitis, and eye strain, leading to headaches, tiredness, and wrinkles.
2. Ultraviolet B (UVB) have shorter wavelengths but are absorbed mainly by our corneas. They are emitted from the sun and artificial lights, such as digital screens. Extended exposure to UVB rays without protection can lead to cataracts, visual discomfort and dry eyes.
3. Ultraviolet C (UVC) is the shortest wavelength and the most dangerous. The good news is, these don’t impact our eyes as the Earth’s atmosphere absorbs them before they reach the surface – phew!
What Are The Sunglasses Categories?
Sunglasses UV Categories refer to the different levels of UV protection you can get for your sunnies. Each has pros and cons, but the best sunglasses category for you often comes down to your lifestyle. Sunglasses categories are numbered 0-4 and determined by how much light they allow to reach your eyes, also known as the VLT (Visible Light Transmission). Low VLTs indicate a darker tint, while high VLTs indicate a lighter tint.
Category 0
Category 0 lenses have very little tint or are completely clear. With a VLT of 80-100%, these are often used in prescription glasses, children’s glasses and safety eyewear but offer little protection from UV rays.
Category 1
Category 1 lenses have a VLT of 43-80% and tend to give your lenses a yellow hue. These don’t provide enough UV protection either, so they tend to be more of a fashion choice.
Category 2
Category 2 lenses are great for bright and overcast days, as their VLT is 18-43%. They block a high percentage of light and offer good UV protection, with orange, red and blue being popular colours.
Category 3
Category 3 lenses have a low VLT of 8-18% and, therefore, a much darker tint. They also provide 100% UV protection, making them the most common sunglasses category as they can be worn every day, in every environment.
Category 4
Category 4 lenses, as expected, have the lowest VLT of 3-8% and the darkest tinted lenses. However, they’re not used for holiday sunglasses as they provide UV protection for specialist work.
How Does UV Harm Our Eyes?
UV stands for ultraviolet and is a form of electromagnetic radiation generated by the sun. The sun emits many types of rays, but UVA is one of the shortest, making it extremely harmful to our eyes and skin. Exposing our eyes to UVA for prolonged periods can cause short-term issues such as dry or watery eyes, squinting and visual discomfort, as well as long-term eye problems, including cataracts, corneal sunburn, eyelid cancers, and macular degeneration. UVA rays are also invisible to the naked eye, which is why we should wear UV protection sunglasses whenever possible.
Do I Need UV Protection In Winter
If the sun is out, then UV rays are about. Considering their strength, this also applies to dull, wet or overcast days when you think you might not need sunglasses in winter. However, UVA and UVB rays are still visible, so it’s wise to keep a pair of sunnies ready when driving, walking, or playing sports outside.
How Can I Protect My Eyes From UV Light?
The simple answer is category 3 UV sunglasses, as these have a low VLT and provide full UV protection. The good news is that Lensology can supply UV protection lenses for prescription and non-prescription sunglasses. We also offer a range of tints to match your style and existing sunglasses frames while ensuring your eyes get all the sun protection they need.
