subject: Sunglasses And Uv Rays [print this page] To best protect your eyes from the sun's harmful UV and HEV rays, always wear good quality sunglasses when you are outdoors. Look for sunglasses that block 100 percent of UV rays and that also absorb most HEV rays. Your optician can help you choose the best sunglass lenses for your needs.
To protect as much of the delicate skin around your eyes as possible, try at least one pair of sunglasses with large lenses or a close-fitting wraparound style. Depending on your outdoor lifestyle, you also may want to explore performance sunglasses or sport sunglasses.
The amount of UV protection sunglasses provide is unrelated to the color and darkness of the lenses. A light amber-colored lens can provide the same UV protection as a dark gray lens. Your optician can verify that the lenses you choose provide 100 percent UV protection. But for HEV protection, color does matter. Most sunglass lenses that block a significant amount of blue light will be bronze, copper or reddish-brown and so on.
When you put on your sunglasses, the tints in the lenses keep UVB light from reaching your eyes. Manufacturers add certain colors that block UVB light. Amber and brown tints are especially useful at absorbing UV light; however, any light-blocking tint will help prevent eye damage.
Manufacturers either use colored glass or polycarbonates to make these lenses or soak polycarbonate lenses in a tint solution. Sunglasses can also have extra UV coating, although these aren't necessarily just for sunglasses, as the coatings are clear and can be applied to regular glasses.
One easy way to keep your eyes protected is to remember to push your sunglasses up on your nose---the closer the lenses are to the eye, the more protection you get.
