The choice of sunglasses according to the type of protection. What is the best UV protection? Sunglasses Filter Category 3 Protection Category Sunglasses

For the right choice, you need to understand that sunglasses have become one of the most important style-forming accessories; Almost no major fashion show can do without them. As a result, many consumers today perceive sunglasses primarily as a kind of style element, often completely unjustifiably forgetting about their main purpose.

According to the current GOST P 51831-2001"Sunglasses. General technical requirements” Sunglasses are personal eye protection designed to reduce solar radiation affecting the eyes. However, nowadays sunglasses have become one of the most important style-forming accessories; Almost no major fashion show can do without them. As a result, many consumers today perceive sunglasses primarily as a kind of style element, often completely unjustifiably forgetting about their main purpose. Tip 1. When purchasing sunglasses, make sure that you are comfortable in them. Glasses should be well fixed on the face - so that you do not have to constantly correct them; besides, they shouldn't. Otherwise, the use of such glasses can eventually turn into real torture. Sunglasses should also be lightweight. In order for glasses to provide reliable protection against solar radiation, they should have wide temples and / or a close-fitting shape to prevent the penetration of radiation from the side. Tight-fitting sunglasses will protect both from direct incident light and from scattered and reflected from different surfaces.

Tip 2. When planning to purchase new glasses, decide where and when you are going to wear them. If you need glasses for sports - this is one story (see section), if you are preparing to spend the summer months at sea or in the mountains - another, but if you intend to use sunglasses mainly in the city - the third. Well, if you spend a lot of time driving and would like to make driving more comfortable with the help of glasses, then this is a separate, fourth story (see). Having decided on the appointment of glasses, you thereby narrow the boundaries of your search and will sooner find for yourself exactly the option that would best suit your individual needs.

Tip 3. Sunglasses performance and recommendations are determined by specifying the category of sunglass filter whose light transmission corresponds to the spectacle lenses. The filter category is usually indicated on the inside of the temple before the “CE” mark (this marking indicates that the product meets European quality standards) and is indicated by a number from 0 to 4. The higher the filter category, the less light transmission of the lenses. The characteristics of filters of different categories are clearly presented in the table below.

Characteristics of filters of different categories

Filter category	Light transmission, %	Description	Application
0	From 80 to 100	Colorless or very slightly colored filter	Indoors or outdoors on cloudy days
1	43 to 80	Weakly colored filter	In conditions of low intensity of solar radiation
2	18 to 43	medium color filter	In conditions of moderate intensity of solar radiation
3	8 to 18	dark colored filter	In bright sunlight
4	3 to 8	Very dark colored filter	In conditions of extremely bright solar radiation; not suitable for driving at any time of the day

Thus, if you need glasses to look spectacular even on the gloomiest day or just hide signs of fatigue on your face, you can easily get by with glasses with a filter of the first and even zero category. If you intend to spend the summer in the city, prefer lenses with a category 2 filter (this option is perhaps quite versatile, it is no coincidence that most of the glasses offered by manufacturers are equipped with just lenses with a category 2 filter), but if your path lies in the mountains or to sea, then you can not do without glasses with a filter of category 3 or 4.

If you need glasses to look spectacular even on the gloomiest day or just hide signs of fatigue on your face, you can easily get by with glasses with a category one filter.

Tip 4. The color of the lenses of the glasses, as well as the category of the filter, must be chosen based on the type of activity you plan to do in them. In general, brown, gray and green lenses are considered the most comfortable for the eyes, which only slightly change the shades of surrounding objects, while the colors remain natural. Yellow lenses are recommended for motorists in poor road lighting, in difficult weather conditions and at dawn, which also help to overcome fear and relieve depression. Orange-brown tones are considered the most optimal for sports lenses, however, in relation to each specific sport, the conversation should be separate (for more details, see :).

In general, brown, gray and green lenses are considered the most comfortable for the eyes.

Tip 5 Sunglasses must provide 100% protection against ultraviolet (UV) radiation - electromagnetic radiation invisible to the eye, occupying the spectral region between visible and X-ray radiation within the wavelength range of 100-380 nm (for more on this, see:) . It has been proven that prolonged and intense exposure to UV radiation can lead to the development of skin cancers, clouding of the cornea and lens, or damage to the retina. Manufacturers of high-quality sunglasses guarantee the consumer a complete cutoff of ultraviolet radiation up to a wavelength of 380 nm or even 400 nm, as evidenced by a special marking on the lenses of the glasses, their packaging or accompanying documentation. The wearer should note that the intense tint of sunglass lenses does not in itself guarantee UV protection. The absorption of UV radiation is provided either by the spectacle lens material itself due to its chemical structure (materials that protect the eye from ultraviolet radiation include, for example, polycarbonate), or the introduction of special UV absorbers into its composition (sometimes the absorber is even introduced into colorless lenses), or applying a special coating. It is impossible to make sure that the lenses provide UV protection without special equipment. The guarantor of quality in this case should be the reputation of the glasses manufacturer. If the name of the manufacturer does not mean anything to you, then the presence of UV protection can be checked using special UV testers or spectrophotometers, which are available in some optical shops. .

Intense tinting of sun lenses does not guarantee UV protection on its own.

Tip 6 The risk to eye health is exposure not only to ultraviolet radiation, but also to short-wavelength blue radiation of the visible spectrum, covering light waves in the range from 380 to 500 nm (for more details see:). Today, in the range of some companies, such as the Austrian company Silhouette and the German concern Rodenstock, there are sunglasses with lenses that cut off the blue range of the visible spectrum. In addition to protecting the eyes by filtering out blue light, these goggles significantly improve image contrast.

Tip 7. If driving on a bright sunny day, you had to get into unpleasant situations due to blinding reflected light, sunglasses with polarized lenses may be the best solution for you (for more on this, see:). They will be useful not only for motorists, but also for those who spend a lot of time outdoors in conditions of excessive solar radiation - on the beach, in the mountains, doing winter sports. The polarizing filter of these glasses allows you to completely eliminate the annoying glare that occurs when light reflects from smooth, flat, shiny surfaces. I would like to make only one amendment regarding motorists: they are not recommended to wear glasses with polarized lenses at night. They reduce the glare of oncoming traffic headlights, but also reduce the amount of light reaching the eye, which is necessary for the driver to ensure safe traffic;

If you've had to deal with dazzling reflected light while driving on a bright sunny day, polarized lenses may be the best solution for you.

Tip 8 Choose glasses with high quality sunglasses. It is important that the lenses have high optical properties and do not distort color perception. A good form is the presence of a multifunctional coating on the lens, which removes interfering reflections, increases scratch resistance and facilitates lens care. The latter is carried out due to the presence of a protective hydrooleophobic layer in the composition of the coating, which repels water, dirt, grease and prevents their distribution over the lens surface (for more details about coatings, see:);

Tip 9. If you wear corrective glasses, then you can use the following methods to protect your eyes from the sun: you can insert corrective sun lenses into a frame suitable for this purpose, or use sun clips that are worn over corrective glasses. Some companies, such as Polaroid Eyewear, offer clip-on sunglasses with a polarizing filter. To date, there is a wide range of sunscreen clips with various fastening systems, including those with convenient magnetic fastening. From a financial point of view, the clip-on option is more economical than the option to purchase corrective sunglasses.

To date, there is a wide range of sun clips with various fastening systems.

Tip 10. No matter how outstanding the quality of the glasses, if you do not like your appearance in these glasses, you are unlikely to wear them with pleasure. Just like when choosing frames, when choosing sunglasses, you should take into account your individual characteristics, in particular, as well as your preferred one. However, thanks to sun lenses, the wearer of sunglasses looks a little different in them than in glasses for corrective vision. This means that some rules for the selection of frames can be neglected. So, unlike frames, it is by no means forbidden to hide eyebrows behind sunglasses. In addition, sunglasses may be larger than the corrective glasses you normally wear.

The degree of sunlight transmission and the level of protection from ultraviolet rays are two key indicators that determine the quality and scope of a particular model of sunglasses. So, let's look at how to choose sunglasses by type of protection.

The degree of protection of sunglasses

There are four levels of protection for sunglasses. Level "0" means that these glasses can only be worn on cloudy or overcast days, as they let in 80% to 100% of the sun's rays. "1" is suitable for weak sun, such as a summer evening. The degree of transmission of rays by lenses with this marking is 43 - 80%. Glasses marked "2" are suitable for strong sun, you can choose them if you decide to spend the summer in the city. They block most of the sunlight, passing from 18% to 43% of the rays to the eye. "3" is suitable for relaxing by the sea, where the sun is already very intense. The percentage of transmission in them is only 8-18%. The most protected points have level "4". In such lenses, your eyes will be comfortable even on, as they let in from 3% to 8% of the sun's rays.

Information about what kind of protection sunglasses should have is worth looking at the label, which also contains information about the manufacturer. Any high-quality model should have such labels. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the fact that the higher the protection, the darker the lens. So, glasses with a protection level of "4" cannot even be used when driving a car, they are so dark.

Sunglasses with UV protection

How to determine the degree of protection of women's sunglasses, in addition to information about light transmission? To do this, there is another parameter on the label - data on how many ultraviolet rays (UVA and UVB spectrum) this or that model passes. In total, there are three types of points, depending on this parameter:

Cosmetic- such glasses practically do not delay harmful radiation (transmission rate 80-100%), which means that they can be worn when the sun is not active.
General- glasses with this marking are perfect for use in the city, as their glasses reflect up to 70% of the radiation of both harmful spectra.
Finally, to relax by the sea or in the mountains, you need to pick up glasses marked High UV protection, as they reliably delay all harmful radiation, which multiplies many times when reflected from water.

There is an opinion among doctors that it is better not to wear glasses at all than to spoil your eyesight with a fake. We will not argue with medicine, but will try to answer the question: how to distinguish a quality product from counterfeit.

Of course, you will not find real Italian or French models on the regular market, so you should not pay attention to the inscriptions on the frames. However, there are times when fakes come across in stores, and even with a solid price.

Glasses passport

So, the first thing you need to pay attention to is that branded sunglasses always come with a passport, a case and a napkin. The passport, as a rule, contains information on compliance with the N 1836 standard, on the country of origin and on the care of the product. We advise you to ask for a quality certificate and a catalog with the model you have chosen. This is necessary in order to verify the number, color and manufacturer of the product with the data indicated on the temples of the glasses. If the passport contains the sign "glare protection", this means that the glasses "extinguish" glare from a reflective surface.

Eyeglass temples

The inner side of the temples contains a lot of informative information. For example, the CE mark, which informs that the glasses comply with European standards.
Also on the frame can be indicated such characteristics as the wavelength and the percentage of UVB and UVA that are retained by the lenses, the refractive index. Let's dwell on them in more detail.

As for the wavelength, remember the "UV 400" sign, which fully provides protection against radiation. The degree of protection against UVA and UVB is most often indicated on the label of sunglasses in the form of the inscription "Blocks at least 95% UVB and 60% UVA". This means that category B ultraviolet radiation is retained by lenses by 95%, and category A by 60%. To avoid confusion in numbers, pay attention to models with indicators of at least 50%.

The higher the refractive index (for example, 1.4; 1.5; 1.6), the better and thinner the lens. AT ray ban sunglasses various protective lens coatings are used that meet all requirements and have the necessary markings.

Categories of lenses

Lenses with the number 0 pass within 80-100% of all radiation and are suitable for cloudy weather. The number 1 indicates the passage of 43-80% of the light. Such models are intended for weak sun. Number 2 is relevant for sunny days. These lenses transmit from 18 to 43% of the radiation. The third category protects from the active sun in summer, retaining 8-18% of the rays. The last are dark glasses, which transmit 3-8% of the light and provide reliable eye protection at ski or sea resorts.

Glass type

Sunglasses are distinguished by the type of glass indicated on the certificate. The characteristics of glasses are indicated by the letters N, P and F. The letter N is typical for ordinary plastic glasses with an ultraviolet filter. The letter P denotes glasses that have a polarizing effect and perfectly protect the eyes in the bright sea sun. The letter F indicates photochromic glasses, which tend to adapt to the brightness of the sun's rays.

The selection of sunglasses is an important and difficult task. If you think that it is only about fashion brands, then you are greatly mistaken. Did you know that when you are going to walk around the city on a sunny day and packing your bags for a vacation at the sea, you should take different sunglasses?

Everyone knows that sunlight contains ultraviolet rays that are harmful to humans and must be protected from. Do you think that glasses save from them? Not at all. Ultraviolet rays such as UV-A and UV-B completely block ordinary transparent glass and some types of plastic. There is also a third type of UV rays "C", but the ozone layer of the earth's atmosphere successfully copes with it. By the way, since we are talking about ultraviolet, reflective surfaces greatly increase the harmful effect of UV rays. That is why it is easy to get burned in the mountains and at the sea (snow reflects light by 90%, the water surface by 70%), and it is difficult on the shore of a forest lake or river (the reflectivity of green grass is only 30%). All these radiations are not visible, but only perceptible. And the dark glasses of sunglasses are designed to save our eyes from the visible part of the harmful sunlight. It is the visible bright light that makes us squint our eyes and “make faces”, albeit not on purpose.

So, all sunglasses have a filter designed for different degrees of illumination. In total, there are 5 degrees of protection for our eyes, and on the product of a responsible manufacturer, the category of sunglasses filter is indicated by the corresponding number.

"0" means that the lenses of the glasses transmit 80-100% of the light. This is the lowest degree of protection, such glasses are suitable only on a cloudy day.
"1" - 43-80% light transmission. Ideal for days when dense clouds give way to clear skies, that is, for partly cloudy and only for the city.
"2" let in 18-43% of the light and are also suitable for urban life. A bright sunny day, a shopping trip - these are the ideal conditions for putting on glasses marked "2".
"3". Light transmittance - 8-18%. Sunglasses with filter categories "1" and "2" are suitable for everyday urban life, and only these, marked "3", can and should be chosen for a trip to the sea. Such protection will withstand both sunbathing on the beach and boat trips.
"4" means the highest degree of protection of the retina from damaging light. Throughput 3–8%. The choice of such filters for glasses belongs to climbers and tourists climbing mountains.

As you can see, choosing glasses is not so easy. It is hardly worth expecting the necessary amount of important information about each item of goods on street stalls, where not every unit of goods has packaging. Once you've tried trusting a real quality sunscreen company, you're unlikely to want to go back to a suspect market range. Ours could be one of the best purchases of your life. The world famous brand RB has already made the lives of millions of people brighter and their views safer.

Take advantage of the best, because you are already with us!