home Calculators What does filter category 3 mean in glasses? Selecting sunglasses by type of protection. Which UV protection is better? Why do you need sunglasses?

What does filter category 3 mean in glasses? Selecting sunglasses by type of protection. Which UV protection is better? Why do you need sunglasses?

Among the abundance of assortment sunglasses presented in opticians and specialized stores, how can you not get confused and choose a quality product that is suitable not only in design, but also in the type of protection? The task is not easy.

What harm does solar radiation have on the eyes?

Having decided to purchase a much-needed stylish accessory, first of all, you should decide in what conditions you will have to use it (on the seashore, in a car, on a walk or for all occasions) and pay attention to the protective properties of glass. High-quality glasses are comfortable to use, do not change color rendering and provide reliable protection from ultraviolet radiation.

Prolonged exposure to the sun without special glasses is fraught with complications for vision. Particular caution on sunny days should be exercised by people with eye diseases or poor health.

Most dangerous time for unprotected eyes are early morning and afternoon hours When the sun is low, the effect on the eyes increases.

Also negative effect UV rays increase when reflected from the water surface. Choosing Sunglasses depending on the type of protection, you should consider how ultraviolet radiation affects the unprotected or insufficiently protected surface of the eyes.

Effects of long-term exposure sun rays on the eyes:

Conjunctivitis. It occurs as a result of damage to the cornea and is accompanied by aseptic inflammation.
Dry eyes. Burning sensation, photophobia, redness of the eyes.
Pterygium.As a rule, it is accompanied by pain and itching. IN severe cases swelling occurs and visual acuity decreases.
Snow blindness. Excessive lacrimation, corneal ulcers, short-term vision loss.
Cataract.Cataract. Visual acuity deteriorates, color perception changes.

be careful, the retina of the eye is very sensitive to UV radiation, the negative effects of which appear after some time. During the irradiation period, as a rule, no discomfort occurs. pain, but this is not a reason to neglect protective measures.

How to choose sunglasses by type of protection

When choosing the right sunglasses based on the type of protection, several factors are usually taken into account - the level of UV filter, the color and material of the lenses. These parameters directly affect the functionality and safety of wearing glasses.

Radiation protection levels

Ophthalmologists distinguish several stages protective properties of sunglasses:

Minimal. The filter level is 15–20%. Recommended to wear in cloudy weather.
Initial. Allows penetration from 40 to 75% sunlight. Suitable for gentle sun in the morning and evening hours.
Average. Blocks up to 65% of ultraviolet radiation. Suitable option for active people sunny days and holidays in hot countries.
Maximum. They transmit only 7–10% of sunlight. Designed for increased eye protection. Ideal choice for people suffering from photophobia, as well as those who enjoy skiing and surfing.

Information on the degree of protection of glasses is located on inside temple. The degree of protection, depending on the manufacturer, can be indicated in a digital value from 1 to 4 (the higher the number, the higher the filter level).

Note, that maximum protection glasses are not recommended to be worn while driving a vehicle as excessive darkness may affect visibility.

What does UVA or UVB marking mean?

Depending on the intensity, ultraviolet rays are divided into:

High-quality glasses must be marked by the manufacturer for ultraviolet transmission and spectrum of rays. At the same time, detailed information about the protective properties of glasses and recommendations on the conditions of use are indicated in a special insert.

Most sunglasses only block part of the UV rays. The corresponding protection range is indicated by the UVA or UVB marking. How to choose sunglasses by type of protection?

Another type of marking, often used by manufacturers, will help with this, and containing information about the transmittance of UV rays:

UVA ray transmittance from 85 to 98%. Used during periods of inactive sun.
Blocks up to 70% There are two types of dangerous rays (UVA and UVB). A universal option for city conditions.
High UV protection. One hundred percent ultraviolet blocker of all types. An ideal choice for a holiday at sea or in the mountains. Blocks glare from the sun's rays from the surface of water or snow.

Glasses that filter out all harmful rays are labeled UV-400, 100% UV-Protection or High UV-protection . This indicator informs that maximum protection is integrated into the structure of the lenses, which cannot be erased or scratched. In any weather and lighting, your eyes are guaranteed complete safety.

Which color to choose based on the degree of protection at different latitudes

Which sunglasses to choose by type of protection and color	Characteristic	Where to use
Gray or malachite	Clear color reproduction, no distortion	Universal (applicable in city conditions and on the sea beach)
Yellow	Hold back bright Blue colour	In the evening and cloudy hours
Polarized	Blocks aggressive bright light	On the beach, in the mountains, driving a car, bicycle, motorcycle
Mirror	Reflect light	In the mountains, in hot countries, during periods of high solar activity
Graduated	Partially change color rendering	In city conditions, during periods of inactive sun
Chameleons	Lenses change color depending on light intensity	A universal option for urban environments

Read the popular site article:

The popular idea is that the richer the color of the lenses, the more protection they have. However, according to experts, the ability to block sunlight does not depend on the color intensity of the lenses.

If the lenses do not have protective properties, then the dark color, on the contrary, provokes higher dose ultraviolet radiation compared to clear lenses. The pupils dilate under the influence of dark lenses, which makes them more susceptible to ultraviolet radiation.

Glass or plastic?

When wondering how to choose sunglasses based on the type of protection, you should consider that, from the point of view of functional characteristics, high-quality plastic glasses and natural glass lenses have identical optical properties and equally protect against ultraviolet radiation.

However, the effect of visual perception of the image through different types glass or plastic - will be completely different. What material to choose for glasses depends on personal preference and comfort.

Advantages of organic glass (plastic):

lightness, almost not noticeable on the face;
safe to wear, does not leave any fragments when dropped;
large selection of frame designs;
diversity color range lenses;

Advantages of mineral glass:

protection from scratches;
aesthetic appearance(glass lenses are thinner);
resistance to temperature changes.

Important to remember When choosing sunglasses based on the type of protection, mineral glass products are usually more expensive than plastic ones. At the same time, glass has increased fragility; if it falls, there is a risk of injury from lens fragments.

If glasses are purchased for children or people actively involved in sports, then for safety reasons, you should opt for accessories made of polymer materials.

What are the benefits of polarized glasses?

Most popular among leading people active image I bought glasses with polarized lenses in my life. Basics The advantage of this type of glasses over others is that it blocks polarized light, which is especially important in driving conditions Vehicle during periods of solar activity.

In addition to reflecting glare, they have other significant advantages:

provide clarity of vision in any type of activity (sports, driving, beach holidays);
improve color perception of objects (colors are more saturated);
neutralize glare and bright flashes, their use reduces the risk of road accidents;
create additional protection from UV rays;
perfect option protection from aggressive rays for people with photophobia;
prevent eye fatigue.

Which glasses should you choose?

The choice of the right sunglasses must be taken with full responsibility; the purchase should be determined not only based on the type of protection, but also on other equally important parameters, such as size, color, conditions and place of purchase.

Wearing unsuitable glasses leads to extreme negative consequences: fatigue, headache, retinal damage, development of cataracts.

How to avoid a bad purchase

Unsuitable glasses	Rationale
WITH low level protection	They will not be able to protect their eyes from the active sun. They are an additional accessory for wearing in the evening and cloudy hours.
With small lenses	They will not be able to fully protect from the sun.
Counterfeit brands	As a rule, they only copy fashionable designs and do not provide protection from UV rays.
Red, orange and blue lenses	They distort color and irritate the retina. It is not recommended to wear it for more than two hours at a time.
Purchased in non-specialized stores	Risk of purchasing glasses that do not contain a sun barrier.
With a transition from one color to another	Eyes get tired quickly.
Inappropriate size (tight, too big)	Uncomfortable fit of glasses provokes the penetration of ultraviolet radiation onto the unprotected surface of the eye.
Penetration of dangerous sun rays into the eyes. The load should be distributed on the bridge of the nose.

Important to remember! Cheap glasses with plain dark lenses different colors, purchased in local retail outlets, as a rule, contain only dye and do not have protective filters.

Wearing such glasses is extremely dangerous. Don’t skimp on your health; well-chosen high-quality sunglasses will become not just a stylish accessory, but also a reliable protector of your vision.

How to choose sunglasses by type of protection, watch this video:

Sunglasses - stylish eye protection in the summer:

How to choose polarized sunglasses for drivers? In this article we will take a closer look at the question of which polarized glasses for the driver to choose, taking into account modern achievements optical industry.

UV protection. U human eye has its own system for adjusting the incoming light, consisting of an outer part - the eyelids and an inner part - the pupil. In order to reduce the amount of light received in bright sunny weather, we squint, and our pupil decreases to minimum sizes. At the same time, the amount of ultraviolet rays is also reduced tenfold.

When a person puts on sunglasses, most of The incoming light is filtered by the lenses, so you no longer have to squint and the diameter of the pupil increases again. That is, the natural defense mechanism given to us by nature is turned off. An enlarged pupil will transmit tens of times more ultraviolet rays, which have a harmful effects on the lens and retina of the eye. Therefore, it is better to walk without any glasses at all than to wear glasses without UV protection.

It should be noted that the windows of modern cars have UV protection, so you can feel safe inside the car.

Darkening degree. Sunglasses vary in darkness into 5 categories:

Sunglasses for drivers are usually equipped with lenses of categories 2 and 3.

Tint color. Having decided on the category, you should choose a tint color. This matter is purely subjective, everyone chooses what they like, but we will still try to give basic recommendations. Let's look at the most common tint colors:

1. Green. Has a calming and relaxing effect. Previously used everywhere and considered the most suitable for sunglasses. Recommended for patients with glaucoma.

2. Gray (aka black, smoky, etc.). Absorbs all colors evenly and therefore does not disrupt color rendering. The best option in sunglasses for driving.

3. Brown. Increases contrast, but as a consequence - increased fatigue eye.

4. Yellow and orange. Such tints are used for driving in poor visibility conditions, on a cloudy day, fog, rain and even at night.

5. Blue. Blocks yellow and orange rays. This tint is used in medium to bright light. Increases contrast and does not distort colors.

6. Blue, pink, red. Such tints are not very common, as they have many disadvantages and also do not provide proper light absorption. Glasses with such lenses are usually used to create an image; we are not interested in them for the purposes of this article.

Glass or plastic? Recently, high-quality plastic has been pushing glass on all fronts. This happens for many reasons: plastic is cheaper, lighter and stronger. At the same time, just like glass, it provides 100% UV protection and proper light absorption. A hardened type of plastic, polycarbonate, has gained particular popularity as a material for sunglass lenses. It is often stronger than the frame itself and is therefore recommended for installation in sports sunglasses, as well as driving sunglasses (such lenses can withstand an airbag blast and are injury-proof). But both plastic and polycarbonate are inferior to glass in terms of scratch resistance, even despite all the modern protective coatings. And another advantage of glass over plastic is that even on a hot sunny day it does not heat up and the eyes are relatively cool, which has a positive effect on comfort.

Polarization. Polarized glasses for drivers (also known as polarized glasses for drivers or anti-glare glasses for drivers) cut off the sun's rays reflected from horizontal surfaces (wet asphalt, snow, car windows, water surface, etc.). The option is extremely useful, because such glasses can be used not only for driving, but also at sea or in the mountains, and they are also suitable for urban use.

The polarizing filter itself is a thin film inside or on back surface lenses. It cannot be visually identified, but it exists the right way Check your glasses for polarization. To do this, you need to sit in front of a computer monitor (the screens of modern smartphones and tablets are not suitable for this) wearing glasses and tilting your head to your left shoulder. If at some point the screen goes completely dark, then polarization is present. Polarized driving glasses are not recommended for use when poor lighting or in dark time days, as they significantly reduce illumination.

Anti-glare coating. Almost every article on choosing sunglasses is written about UV protection and polarization, but there is no information about anti-reflective coating, although this is very important point. Sunglasses have an anti-reflective coating applied to the inside of the lenses to prevent rays coming from behind or from the sides from reflecting off the lenses and into your eyes. Particularly relevant this problem for owners of sunglasses with glass lenses, because glass reflects light much more better than plastic. Therefore, when choosing such glasses, do not skimp and pay extra for anti-reflective lenses.

It is by the presence of an anti-reflective coating that one can identify high-quality sunglasses for driving. To determine the presence of anti-glare, look at the inside surface of the lens and tilt the glasses at different angles. If you see a blue-violet reflection, it means that an anti-reflective coating is present.

As you can see in this figure, lenses of glasses without anti-reflection reflect the incident light quite strongly; during use, they will glare decently, while lenses with anti-reflection reflect light much less.

Curvature of glasses. Another important characteristic when choosing sunglasses for drivers, which few people pay attention to, is the basic curvature of the lenses. Typically it ranges from 6 (flat glasses) to 9 (sports, close-fitting glasses). For driving, it is best to choose close-fitting glasses (8-9 base curvature).

In this case, a minimum of light will fall into the openings between the glasses and your face and, accordingly, will distract you less. The lenses must be large enough to cover the periphery of the eyes. In this case, you will not have to rotate your head with glasses if you need to look in the side mirror; it will be enough to simply move the pupil.

Lens shape. In 1937, Ray-Ban released the first sunglasses designed for US Air Force pilots. This model was called “Aviator” and it had a characteristic teardrop shape, specially adapted for flying an airplane.

Sunglasses on Tom Cruise's face in the movie Top Gun.

This form turned out to be so successful that today it is the most popular among sunglasses manufacturers. This shape (as well as its various variations) is also great for driving glasses.

Rim glasses. How the thinner the better. A completely frameless option would be ideal, since in this case the frame will not limit the viewing angle. The temples should also be thin so as not to block peripheral vision.

A great example of driving glasses.

It is also advisable to keep weight to a minimum, since during long trips, heavy glasses (especially with glass lenses) will put pressure on the bridge of the nose, which is why you will once again be distracted by adjusting them or massaging a tired nose.

Conclusions. With all that said, the ideal polarized sunglasses for drivers are rimless glasses with lightweight polycarbonate lenses and thin temples. Lens tint level 2 or 3. Tint color can be grey, green, brown or blue depending on the person’s preference. Lenses must be equipped with polarizing technology and also have an anti-reflective coating on them. inner surface. The frames of glasses should be light, durable and injury-proof. Material - light plastic, steel alloy, and best of all titanium. Base curvature 8-9 lenses, aviator or similar shape, wide enough to cover the sides of the eyes.

When choosing sunglasses, the main thing is to pay attention not to cost and design, but to the degree of protection from ultraviolet rays, and of course, to the license. Eye health is the dominant factor, image and fashion come later.

How to choose the right sunglasses

Ignore glasses with small, narrow lenses. With them, the meaning of protection is completely lost, because narrow lenses will transmit ultraviolet rays around them, although the field of view will be limited. This factor will only increase the strain on the eyes, because natural reaction eyes when the field of vision is darkened - pupil dilation. Nerve receptors that respond to the degree of darkness are located in the center of the retina. As a result, the eye, deceived by the decrease in illumination created only in the center of the field of view, opens the pupil and the flow of ultraviolet radiation unhindered begins to burn out the retina itself.

If glasses with lenses normal size, but of low quality, then the same thing happens. Dark lenses cause the pupil to dilate - the eye does not know that these low-quality lenses darken only the visible spectrum, and all the harmful ultraviolet radiation is passed onto the defenseless retina of the eye and also burns it out.

What is most regrettable is that only a specialist can distinguish a fake from a quality product in appearance, and even then with the help specialized equipment. But the result of wearing a fake will not appear immediately, and the consequences may be irreversible, even including complete blindness. This is exactly the example when saving is prohibited, because... in this case, the stingy (or deceived) pays not twice, but for the rest of his life. Moreover, in most cases, he will not even understand (or will not believe) what caused the deterioration of vision.

If, after spending the day wearing new sunglasses, your eyes feel watery or you notice painful sensations in the eyes in bright light, or even deterioration of vision, then most likely the eyes were damaged by the attack of ultraviolet radiation. The most reasonable way out in this situation is to immediately run to an ophthalmologist.

Prolonged exposure to UV radiation may cause sunburn cornea - photokeratitis, which can lead to temporary loss of vision. This phenomenon is observed in skiers or polar explorers, which is why in ophthalmology it is called “snow blindness.” Photokeratitis is also a common occurrence among vacationers at equatorial resorts.

Remember:

The closer you are to the equator or the higher you are in the mountains, the more aggressive the avalanche of UV rays hits your eyes.
And one more rule - the closer to large surfaces of water, the more powerful the reflected flux of UV radiation. This means that the more you need high-quality sunglasses.

So if you yourself don’t know how to choose the right sunglasses, then there are two options:

Buy only certified products from a generally recognized manufacturer, and only from a seller who provides a guarantee on the quality of the product. (at the end of the article I will give some links to a sunglasses store)
Don't buy sunglasses at all - natural defensive reaction The eyes will automatically adjust the degree of opening of the aperture and automatically set the flow of transmitted light to the optimal safe level.

Now let's talk about quality criteria.

Glass or plastic

If the manufacturer meets the standards, then both are protected with high quality. So don’t worry about choosing between glass and plastic.

There is an opinion that quality glasses can only be equipped with glass lenses. This is a myth; even such a generally recognized cult company as Ray Ban, in addition to traditional glass, has long been producing models from high-tech organic plastic.

The only difference is the price of such plastic. If cheap options are made of acrylic, which transmits UV rays, then expensive ones are made of polycarbonate. This polymer reliably protects the eyes from ultraviolet radiation, does not scratch and is safe for health.

If you are firmly convinced that the material of your sunglasses should definitely be glass, but you doubt the words of the seller, then checking the composition is the only easy way. Just put the lens on your cheek or lips - glass, unlike polymer, will be cold, even in hot weather.

Pros and cons of plastic lenses

Plastic is safer to use. It is advisable for children to take glasses made of plastic.
It is easier to apply protective coatings on plastic.
Plastic is lighter.
Easily scratched. If scratches or cracks occur, you should immediately stop using glasses, as this may cause vision problems.
Optical distortion possible.
Deformed when high temperatures.

Pros and cons of glass lenses

Glass lenses initially do not transmit ultraviolet radiation. Provide acceptable UV protection even without the use of protective coatings.
Less optical distortion than plastic.
Glass lenses are scratch resistant.
The main disadvantage is fragility. Glass sunglasses are not recommended for children and athletes.
Glass is heavier than plastic.

High-quality plastic is a good alternative. During the production process, special additives are introduced into the composition, and during the manufacture of lenses, protective layers are applied. An unpleasant nuance may be the distortion of objects, but this factor must be assessed directly by trying on glasses: straight lines should not change shape.

Sun lens color

The phrase “sees everything in rosy color” has nothing to do with glasses. Having glasses is not enough to lift your mood Pink colour, on the contrary, if this shade turns out to be close to red, it can adversely affect the psyche.

The color of the lenses of sunglasses affects the natural color rendering of the surrounding world and the choice depends only on personal preferences. Although, of course, it is useful to know how certain shades affect the reaction from the perception of the filtered world around us.

The most optimal shades are considered to be brown, dark gray and dark green: in the first two, the color rendition most closely matches reality, in the third, harmful rays are filtered out to the maximum and the eyes are less tired.

Yellow and orange filters block blue light and help in worse weather conditions when the sun is not bright. In conditions of significantly reduced illumination, these filters shift the reaction of the photoreception system of the eye towards intensification and the surrounding space becomes brighter, especially at night. There are even glasses for night driving based on this effect, they just add a layer that dampens the direct light from the headlights.

Gray and brown - best colors for vision. Maximum naturalness of color rendering.
Green - maximum filtering of harmful rays.
Pink - Helps reduce eye fatigue.
Yellow and orange are of little use; they unnecessarily overload the retina and have negative impact on the central nervous system.
Red - worsens coordination of movements, up to loss of orientation on the ground.

Additional properties

Some important properties, which it is advisable to take into account when making the right choice sunglasses. Manufacturers add to products various effects: specular reflection, uneven darkening, polarization, photochromicity. And this is not for style, but for functionality. There is a scientific explanation for everything.

A protective coating with a mirror effect is designed to eliminate various glare from surfaces, such as snowy mountains, sea or wet road surface.

Polarized lenses can also neutralize glare reflected from surfaces. At the same time, they do not distort the color balance at all, but only cut off the circular light wave, turning it into a flat one.

Gradient lenses, darkest at the top with a gradual weakening downwards, are functional when protection is required only from bright sky and direct sunlight. For example, specialized glasses for car enthusiasts, recommended for drivers with a low sun position. This option can lead to rapid eye fatigue, so for everyday wear it is advisable to choose a uniform darkening.

Photochromic lenses smoothly adapt to changes in light brightness. This property is implemented in chameleon glasses that darken in the sun or become transparent when the brightness of the light decreases. They are coated with special substances - photochromic agents. Attention! At high temperatures, photochromic agents are less active than at low temperatures. That is, in hot weather the rate of dimming photochromic lenses weakens and the eyes may not receive protection in time. When choosing photochromic lenses, consider, in addition to the speed of darkening and lightening, also temperature sensitivity. Over time, the photochemical coating may “tire” and the darkening will weaken. Therefore, chameleon glasses must be replaced regularly.

Lens markings

When choosing glasses, pay attention Special attention on the “ultraviolet” marking, indicating the degree of protection against ultraviolet rays as a percentage.

The inscription “400 nm” indicates the maximum wavelength from which they protect sunglasses. If the specified number is less than 400, then some of the rays will pass through the filter.

The manufacturer's marking may look like this:

UV-A is the most high degree protection,
UV-B - medium level.

The first is intended for use under conditions of strong solar insolation, for example, on the beach. The second is placed on glasses that can be used in everyday life.

In addition to this marking, not letters, but numbers may be indicated indicating the maximum length of ultraviolet wavelength of light that the glasses are capable of filtering.

Glasses labeled:

UV 400 filters up to 99% of ultraviolet radiation,
UV 380 - 95% ultraviolet rays.

The first is acceptable in cloudy skies, when the sun alternately hides behind the clouds.
The second is intended for urban conditions, when lighting conditions change during the day. These glasses can be worn indoors.
Lenses of the third category are the most common and versatile. Suitable for both beach holiday and for motorists.
The fourth degree of protection is intended for particularly dangerous mountain conditions. Recommended for climbers and skiers. Sold exclusively in specialized sports or travel stores. Driving is strictly prohibited.

Shading and UV protection levels are divided into five categories:

“0” - 80-100% light transmission. Minimum protection from ultraviolet radiation of all ranges.
“1” - 43-80% light transmission.
“2” - 18-43% light transmission.
“3” - 8-18% light transmission. Recommended for regular trips to nature and beach holidays at non-equatorial latitudes.
“4” - 3-8% light transmission. A very dark filter, designed for tropical countries and high mountains.

Frame

Tips like “how to choose the right frames, adjust your face shape or choose Fashionable style“We will not consider this article; I will only note the basic principles.

Gold, silver, pale blue and light green frame colors are more suitable for blondes (and blondes).
Fair-haired people will look more interesting with copper frames or gold.
Brunettes and brown-haired women look better in shades of brown, gold, and red frames.

The frame of the glasses should fit snugly, especially on the upper part of the face, but without squeezing the temples and bridge of the nose. Otherwise, it can cause fatigue, even headaches.

Sunglasses protect the skin around the eyes

This is a minor property, but still, properly selected high-quality sunglasses can protect not only the eyes, but also the sensitive skin around them, which is important as a protective factor against premature aging skin.

For most main recipe youth is no secret: if you don’t want to grow old, protect your skin from the sun’s rays. Statistics say that the majority of wrinkles appear as a result of exposure to the sun on the skin. And thin soft skin near the eyes needs special protection, not to mention the eyes themselves.

Even super expensive high quality ones cosmetical tools with sun protection factors will not provide the same protection as high-quality glasses (tens of times higher than the sun-reflecting properties of advertised sunscreens).

Sunglasses models and manufacturers

Ray Ban is considered the generally recognized world leader, although other companies producing fashion accessories have impressive collections of sunglasses - Armani, Adidas, Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Prada. Buying them nowadays is not a problem, because proven brands are a guarantee of quality. You just need to take into account the dominance of counterfeits on the Russian market, and even more so on the Ukrainian market. It is safer to order genuine sunglasses in an online store, personally verifying their authenticity, and read customer reviews there.

Where to buy the best sunglasses

According to statistics, among the world's eyewear manufacturers, the most popular models are:

aviator – Ray Ban (Aviator)
wayfarer - Ray Ban (Wayfarer).

Summarizing

It is advisable to know in advance for what purposes sunglasses are required. If there are eye diseases or vision problems, consult an ophthalmologist first.
For sports in snowy conditions, it is preferable to purchase sunglasses with polarized lenses.
If there is a frequent sudden change in lighting brightness (going out of a building into the sun), it is advisable to buy sunglasses with photochromic lenses.
Carefully study the marking - it indicates which ultraviolet rays the glasses lenses protect from, and whether they are able to remove glare or adapt to the brightness of the light.
Avoid buying sunglasses from markets and street stalls. Of course, high-quality glasses do not have to be expensive, but health is more important than savings.

Just approach the choice without fanaticism. Tested on personal example that quality sunglasses for $10 and fancy branded ones for $350 offer the same protection from UV rays. And all the games with pricing are simply marketing perversions of sellers, how to sell the same thing at a higher price under the image of a super fashionable brand. Take a look through the catalogs of European stores and you will be surprised - there are sunglasses for 800 euros. And what’s interesting is that there are buyers for them too.

Truly, the rich have their own quirks.

Or maybe it's not so simple? Maybe the price of health is really worth such prices?

Hardly... More like a phobia. If only they had our salaries...

Video

How to choose the right sunglasses

What do you look for when buying sunglasses? Price? Model? Matches your face shape? Convenience? That's right - these are very important parameters. But there are other nuances that you won’t find out about during a visual assessment.

We are talking about symbols and numbers on glasses, which you most likely do not know what they mean.

Most people don’t think about what the numbers on the temple mean when choosing glasses, believing that it’s just some kind of serial number. But in fact, this is the marking of sunglasses, which can tell a lot about them, of course, if you understand the symbols.

What do the numbers on sunglasses mean?

Most serious manufacturers of branded products have their own system for marking sunglasses, but some designations are still repeated and they usually mean the same parameters (not necessarily applied in the order presented below):

1) Almost always present combination of characters "CЄ» – a mark indicating the product’s compliance with quality standards accepted in Europe.

2) Inscription "Madein", indicating the country where the product was manufactured, may or may not be present on the temples. But if there is one, then the marking on the temple of sunglasses should contain exactly these words or variations like “Hand Made in”, but no “design in”, “frame”, “produced”, etc. (such inscriptions are applied only for fakes).

3) Brand name and model name/number. In many glasses of popular brands, instead of the full name, abbreviations are often used (may be part of the model designation) like P - Polaroid, RB - Ray Ban, etc.

4) Some manufacturers (for example, Polaroid, Ray Ban) indicate on some models year of issue(usually after the brand/model name).

5) Serial number products - 4-5 numbers (sometimes with a hyphen) that do not fit into any of the other categories.

6) One free-standing latin letter responsible for labeling sunglasses by color lenses

7) The easiest way to determine what the numbers on the frame of glasses mean is on the sides of the rectangle symbol (# □ @ $). This is accepted as standard by almost all manufacturers. designation of glasses sizes:

# - width spectacle lens at its widest point;

@ – the size of the bridge between the lenses or simply the distance between them if there is no bridge;

$ – length of the temple (from the hinge to the end).

Sometimes a fourth digit is added to indicate the height of the lens, and the rectangle is replaced with the “/” (slash) symbol.

8) As for deciphering the inscriptions on glasses in the “Filter Cat.#” format, they indicate the degree of darkness of the lenses. In place of # there can be numbers from 1 to 4 (from light to dark, with two intermediate options).

Decoding other inscriptions on glasses

Not very often, but still the markings on the temple of sunglasses may contain the following inscriptions:

1) UV*** – marking of sunglasses against ultraviolet radiation. Symbols UV (UltraViolet) - ultraviolet. The number after the symbols tells you what maximum ultraviolet wavelength (in nanometers) is filtered by the lens.

The highest level of sunglass protection (UV400 marking) blocks 100% of ultraviolet radiation from reaching your eyes.

UV380 is slightly less protective because it only filters out 95% of UV rays.

2) There may be inscriptions like 95% UVB and 60% UVA - in this case, the lens does not transmit 95% of type B UV rays (the most harmful) and 60% of type A rays.

3) P (Polarized) – glasses have polarizing properties, i.e. are able to protect the eyes from horizontal sun rays (glare).

4) “Cosmetic” – glasses are more of a stylish accessory than a means of protecting the eyes from the sun’s rays.

5) Regarding the inscriptions and engravings on the bridge, outside temples or directly on the lenses, such marking of sunglasses does not have a standard - usually the names/logos of brands are placed in these places, which should indicate that the product is original. For example, the Ray Ban inscription in the original models is applied only to the left (with front side) lens in the upper left corner.

6) It happens that deciphering the inscriptions on glasses is not possible, since you do not recognize any of the above standard designations and the inscriptions simply contain a jumbled set of letters/numbers. In most cases, this means that the model in front of you is not original, i.e. fake.

As you can see, knowing what the numbers on sunglasses (and symbols) mean is quite useful. Besides the fact that they can help you choose glasses with the properties you need, they can also warn you against buying low-quality copies.

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

Of course, you won’t find real Italian or French models on the regular market, so you shouldn’t pay attention to the inscriptions on the frames. However, there are times when you come across fakes in stores, and even at a hefty price.

Glasses passport

So, the first thing you need to pay attention to is that branded sunglasses always come complete with a passport, a case and a napkin. The passport, as a rule, contains information about compliance with standard N 1836, the country of origin and 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 check the number, color and manufacturer of the product with the data indicated on the temples of the glasses. If the passport contains the “glare protection” sign, this means that the glasses “quench” glare from the reflective surface.

Glasses temples

The inside of the arches contains a lot of educational information. For example, the CE mark, which informs that the glasses comply with European standards.
Also on the frame may be indicated such characteristics as wavelength and the percentage of UVB and UVA that are retained by the lenses, and the refractive index. Let's look at them in more detail.

Regarding wavelength, remember the "UV 400" sign, which provides full radiation protection. 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”. It means that ultraviolet radiation category B is delayed by lenses by 95%, and category A by 60%. To avoid confusion in the 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. Ray Ban sunglasses use a variety of protective lens coatings that meet all requirements and are labeled as required.

Lens categories

Lenses with the number 0 transmit between 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 radiation. The third category protects from active sun in summer, blocking 8-18% of rays. The last are dark glasses, transmitting 3-8% of light and providing reliable eye protection at ski or sea resorts.

Glass type

Sunglasses vary according to the type of glass specified in the certificate. The characteristics of glass are designated by the letters N, P and F. The letter N is typical for ordinary plastic glass with an ultraviolet filter. The letter P denotes glass that has a polarizing effect and perfectly protects the eyes in the bright sea sun. The letter F indicates photochromic glass, which has the property of adjusting to the brightness of the sun's rays.