Sunglasses are used especially during summer, both by adults and children; they are also recommended in winter, when light reflects off the white snow and the large amount of ultraviolet rays can cause eye burns.
Tips for Choosing Sunglasses
When choosing sunglasses, patients should consider:
- UV protection – it should be as close to 100% as possible;
- Lens color – the fact that the lens is darker in color does not indicate higher protection;
- Larger sunglasses are preferable, as they protect the eye more from solar rays;
- Lens color does not matter in UV radiation absorption; we can wear any color, as long as we know the protection level of the glasses;
- Polarized lenses eliminate the 'glare' phenomenon and have nothing to do with UV radiation;
- The price of sunglasses does not always reflect quality value.
UV Radiation Filter Categories
According to European standards, there are 4 categories of UV radiation filtering, based on which we can choose our sunglasses.
| Category | Light Transmission | Color Saturation | Recommendations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 80-100% | Transparent or very light | Very low attenuation, allows daytime driving |
| 1 | 43-80% | Light | Reduction of sunlight intensity, allows daytime driving |
| 2 | 18-43% | Medium | Universal solar filter, general use, allows daytime driving |
| 3 | 8-18% | Strong | Intense solar radiation, allows daytime driving |
| 4 | 3-8% | Very strong | Very intense solar radiation conditions (water, ice, snow, sand, altitude). NOT for driving! |
Frequently Asked Questions
UV protection should be as close to 100% as possible. Lens color does not indicate the level of protection.
Category 4 glasses (excessive brightness) should not be used for driving vehicles. Categories 0-3 allow daytime driving.
