Standards for UV Protection in Sunglasses


If you are exposed to ultraviolet radiation, particularly if it is short wave ultraviolet light, then protective eyewear should be worn.  It is not possible to tell the amount of UV protection a pair of sunglasses has by simply looking at them, nor by price or lens colour.  Sunglasses are often labelled with how much protection they have.  There are, industry standards but not all manufacturers adhere to these.  

Cosmetic sunglasses that have slightly tinted lenses can be used in low levels of sunlight but it may not be advisable to wear them whilst driving or in the sunlight if they have no UV protection. 

General-purpose sunglasses are better for driving and are recommended when sunlight is enough to make you strain your eyes from the sun. 

Purpose sunglasses can block up to 97 percent of visible light and nearly 100 % UVA and UVB rays.  They can be worn during prolonged periods of time in the sun but may not be ideal for driving. 

Please note that although clouds block solar brightness they can still allow a lot of UV light to reach your eyes and therefore sunglasses should still be worn on cloudy days.  Many sunglasses will have a sticker on them saying 100% UV protection.

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