Not only does our skin need good protection from the sun, but so do our eyes. But sunglasses with particularly heavily tinted lenses are usually not the best choice for this.
It’s so bright! If there isn’t a single cloud in the sky, we have to squint our eyes. A good pair of sunglasses should protect us from the annoying glare of the sun – and also from its UV rays. If these rays hit the eyes at high intensity, it can cause painful inflammation. In the long term, the risk of eye diseases such as cataracts also increases.
Why sunglasses lenses shouldn’t be too dark
When it comes to finding the right pair of sunglasses, you need to know that the tint of the lenses has nothing to do with UV protection, as the Good Vision Board (KGS) explains. The assumption that “the darker, the better” is therefore a mistake.
And it can even cause damage: if we wear sunglasses with particularly dark tinted lenses that filter out a lot of light, our pupils dilate even more. If we then take the glasses off, even more UV radiation can fall on the retina.
Which glare protection is suitable when
However, the tint of the lenses determines how well they protect against glare. There is a scale that ranges from 0 to 4 – the higher the value, the more disturbing light the sunglasses’ lenses filter out.
According to the KGS, category 2 is well suited for summer in this country. If you are on holiday in the south, on the beach or in the mountains, category 3 is a good choice. Category 4 sunglasses are suitable for stays in the high mountains – however, the extremely dark lenses are taboo in traffic.
Glasses in categories 0 and 1 are less in demand in summer: they are best suited for cloudy skies or changeable weather.
How to recognize good UV protection
The question remains: How do I know whether the glasses provide good protection against UV radiation? An important indicator is the CE mark. It guarantees that the sunglasses meet the relevant EU standard. The lenses therefore have a UV filter that keeps most of the harmful radiation away from the eyes. Some models are also marked with the UV400 test mark.
By the way: The Good Vision Board advises against buying glasses for holidays outside the EU. After all, EU guidelines do not apply there. This means that it often remains unclear how well glasses actually protect against UV radiation.
The shape matters
Even if some people find micro sunglasses more stylish, if you want to protect your eyes from the sun as best as possible, the lenses should reach at least to your eyebrows, says the KGS. The temples should also be a little wider, so that less sunlight can reach your eyes from the side.
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