Who said rose-tinted glasses are bad? Or brown or green ones? The sun's ultraviolet rays can damage the conjunctiva, cornea, retina and lens, so it's best to wear sunglasses in the summer, even on cloudy days. We will tell you how to choose the right sunglasses.

What types of ultraviolet rays are there?

There are three types of UV rays that are harmful to the eyes:

A - may damage the lens and retina
B - damage to the cornea
C - is the most dangerous and causes severe burns to the cornea.
Where do we encounter ultraviolet light?

We encounter A and B rays everywhere, even during an ordinary walk.

In nature, C rays are absorbed in the upper atmosphere. However, this type of radiation is also found in minimal amounts in everyday life: in LED lamps in nail salons or germicidal lamps in hospitals. It is dangerous when directly exposed to the eyes.

Where to start when choosing glasses?

Look for the "UV" marking on the temple of your glasses. These letters indicate that the lenses contain special UV filters. For example:

UV 100% - provides complete protection from ultraviolet rays.
UVA/UVB/UVC — Indicates protection from UVA, UVB, or UVC rays.
Choosing glasses that provide effective protection

It is best to choose glasses with a UV400 rating, which has the highest degree of protection. These glasses provide protection against all types of sunlight. If the glasses say UV350, the lenses block UV-C and UV-B rays, but only partially block UV-A rays. It's all about wavelength:

A — 315–400 nm

B—280–315 nm

C—100–280 nm

lenses

Ophthalmologists recommend plastic lenses: they are lighter and stronger than glass lenses and provide excellent UV protection. Lenses need to be perfect and provide clear vision.

Gray and dark green lenses are suitable for daytime use; They do not compromise color accuracy. Yellow, blue or pink lenses are suitable for use in cloudy weather or at dusk.

light transmittance

This mark can be found on the stem or lens of the glasses.

Category 1 – low tint but full UV protection. Suitable for cloudy weather.

Category 2 - wearable in the city

Category 3 - strong darkening, suitable for the beach.

Category 4 – transmits only 5% of light. It is indispensable in the mountains and in the open sea.

additional coating

- Anti-glare - increases clarity

- Antistatic feature - reduces dust adhesion to lenses

— Photochromic lenses — “chameleon” lenses: they darken in the sun and lighten indoors. They protect the eyes from sudden changes in light.

Important!

Totally black lenses, but without a UV filter, are more harmful than wearing glasses at all: the pupils constantly dilate, letting in more harmful radiation.