What does Cat 3 UV400 mean?

protection. In accordance with a survey conducted with respect to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 53 percent of individuals mistakenly believe that sunglasses with dark lenses offer better sun protection than light lenses. In reality, lens color and tint have nothing in connection with protecting the eyes from UV rays. Sunglasses with dark lenses that do not offer adequate UV protection can actually be quite harmful, as the dark tint causes the pupils to dilate, letting more harmful light in to the eyes. This is not correct as the color of the sunglasses lenses gives no indication of the sunlight filtering.

  • And it goes without saying that whatever lens type you select, it should offer 100% UV protection, also called UV400.
  • The study was later broadened to further terrestrial applications, e.g., deserts, mountains, and fluorescent-lighted offices, and the technology was commercially marketed by way of a U.S. company.
  • UV rays can be just as harmful to the eyes because they are to the skin.

When in doubt, look for sunglasses which have UV 400 protection lenses, or sunglasses that specify 100% protection. These extra-dark sunglasses have Category 4 lenses designed for wear in “extreme sunshine,” and are so dark, in fact, they’re never to be worn for road use. The lenses are produced from shatter-resistant polycarbonate, so you get yourself a carrying pouch for extra protection when they’re stored away. The wraparound style means that even your peripheral vision is protected, and the spring hinges offer lightweight hold for a cushty fit. Plus, the TR-90 frame is ultra-flexible for durable wear, and you get complete UV protection. “I have problems with Photophobia and cannot handle bright sunlight. I have tried numerous sunglasses to help ease the situation, and these are the best undoubtedly,” one reviewer remarked. Cat 2 lenses will be the most common category to be found in sunglasses, for general use they offer good protection from visible light and from UV rays.

How Would You Check If Sunglasses Are Uv400?

In the early 20th century, they were also known as sun cheaters . Sunglasses with category 3 lenses give a higher level of sun glare reduction and good level of UV protection against strong sun brightness and light reflected off of water or snow. All ro•sham•bo baby sunglasses lenses are Category 3 with regard to darkness. Traditional UV lenses are created to block ultraviolet rays also to reduce the overall brightness of the light reaching your eyes. Polarized sunglasses, alternatively, include a special filter that is specifically designed to lessen glare from intense reflected light, which can interfere with vision. Cat 3 lenses provide extra protection from both visible and UV light. These lenses will usually only allow significantly less than 20% of visible light to penetrate the lens.

A yellow lens is another high contrast lens color that make details pop, however, most people will not want to use it completely glare sun. This is usually a category 2 lens instead of most sunglasses which are cat 3. So you remain getting 100% UV protection and you’re cutting some glare with a light polarization. But it should be noted that the lighter your lens color may be the less light can be removed with polarization, making the impact of the polarization less intense. The Automobile Association and the Federation of Manufacturing Opticians have produced guidance for collection of sunglasses for driving. Variable tint or photochromic lenses increase their optical density when subjected to UV light, reverting with their clear state once the UV brightness decreases.

Selecting Perfect Sunglasses

Corrective lenses or glasses can be manufactured with either tinting or darkened to serve as sunglasses. Photochromic lenses gradually darken when exposed to ultraviolet light. You want sunglasses that block at the very least 99 percent of both UVA and UVB rays 2 . Search for labels that say “99% UV protection guaranteed” or “100% protection guaranteed.” Some also might be labeled “UV 400,” which means the lenses block all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers.

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