UV protection is accomplished by adding a coating to sunglasses and eyeglasses lenses during the manufacturing process. This UV coating blocks the sun’s harmful ultraviolet radiation, keeping it from your eyes and the delicate skin around them. UV protection on your glasses and sunglasses lenses helps protect your eyes from the damage UV radiation can cause.
UV-protective sunglasses and glasses feature a thin coating of UVA- and UVB-blocking material to protect your eyes outdoors. This UV coating can be applied to any plastic or glass lens for maximum protection. UV protection is so important that FramesDirect provides this UV-protective coating on all of our lenses at no additional cost.
Types of UV Radiation
There are three types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Both UVA and UVB rays (or simply, UV radiation) can cause short- and long-term damage to your eyes and your vision. This makes UVA and UVB rays the target for UV protection in glasses and sunglasses. UVC radiation is considered a minimal threat because it’s absorbed by the earth’s ozone layer.
The sun poses the biggest daily threat when it comes to ultraviolet radiation. However, welding equipment, tanning beds, and lasers can also produce UV rays. They may require special eye protection beyond regular sunglasses, so make sure you have the right gear.
Do I Need UV Coating on My Sunglasses?
Yes. A UV coating on eyeglasses and sunglasses protects your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Even short-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation without wearing UV-protective sunglasses or eyeglasses can cause damage in your eyes that is similar to a sunburn.
This is called photokeratitis, and it can make your eyes become red and puffy. It can also make your eyes feel gritty, like you might have sand in them. If you’re very sensitive to light, you may suffer from excessive tearing. Fortunately, these symptoms are usually temporary.
However, if your eyes are exposed to long-term UV radiation without proper protection, you may be at a greater risk of developing cataracts and/or macular degeneration later in life.
How Much UV Protection Should My Sunglasses Provide?
Ideally, your sunglasses should be labeled as UV400 or providing 100% UVA-UVB protection against the sun’s UV rays. You should be able to verify from the sticker or product information included with a pair of sunglasses how much UV protection they provide.
Even if sunglasses are dark enough to block visible light, that does not automatically mean they provide protection from UV radiation. It can actually be more harmful to wear dark shades without UV protection than to not wear any sunglasses at all. This is because the dark tint may allow your pupils to remain larger in the sun, which can expose your eyes to more damage from UV radiation.
The Best Sunglasses for UV Protection
Wraparound, or sunglasses with a wrapped profile are the best sunglasses for UV protection because they offer the most coverage. This style of frame curves around your features to provide ample protection from straight-on and peripheral sunlight.
While most commonly seen as rectangular frames, you can find sleek wraparound styles with oval and rounded lenses. Some of our top performance brands, including Smith, Oakley, and Maui Jim, make wraparound frames with 3-, 5-, and 8-base wraps. These ensure your frames stay balanced and comfortable through high-octane activities while providing the most protection possible.
Do Safety Glasses Have UV Protection?
If they are made with polycarbonate or a similar material, safety glasses may naturally block UV radiation. If not, a UV-protective coating can likely be added during production when you order a new pair.
Is Polarization the Same As UV Protection?
No. Polarization and UV protection are different, so it’s important to make sure that UV protection is included when shopping for polarized sunglasses. It’s common for companies to advertise them together because polarization is typically only offered with sunglasses. But remember: Polarization alone does not protect your eyes from UV radiation.
Polarization refers to a lens’s ability to reduce glare and haze in bright sun. While the sun’s rays often hit you directly, they can also reflect off of water, sand, snow, and buildings. Polarized lenses tend to be most helpful for reducing glare around these reflective surfaces.
Can Cleaning or Heat Exposure Damage UV Protection?
No amount of lens cleaning or exposure to heat will affect the protective qualities of sunglasses with UV protection embedded. Choose a brand known for the quality of its lenseslike Wiley X, Maui Jim, or Ray-Banto get sunglasses that come standard with UV protection.
Is UV Protection Necessary in Eyeglasses?
If you plan to step outside in your glasses without switching to shades, a UV coating is an important option to consider. Fortunately, lenses don’t need a dark tint to provide 100% UV protection. The UV coating is effective at blocking UV radiation whether you have clear lenses or tinted sunglasses.
Your lens material can provide some protection too. Polycarbonate lenses and other high-index plastics like Trivex inherently provide 100% UV protection. However, regular plastic lenses must have a UV coating added to make them UV-protective.
Photochromic lenses — the ones that darken automatically when exposed to direct sunlight — already have UV protection embedded in them.
Is UV Protection on Glasses Worth It?
Yes! In fact, if you opt for glasses without 100% UV protection, you may as well not wear sunglasses at all. Adding a UV coating to your Rx lenses is easy, and often comes free with the lenses you order from FramesDirect.com.
Our clear, UV-protective lens coating blocks 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays and comes standard on all polycarbonate and high-index lenses. Without changing the color of the lens, the coating will help defend your eyes against UVA and UVB rays.
What Other Types of Light Protection Are Available in Eyeglasses?
Blue light filtering lens treatment is among the available eye protection technologies we offer. Many digital LED screens emit blue light, which may contribute to glare and discomfort after extended use.
Wearing blue light filtering glasses during prolonged computer or tablet use can filter some blue-violet light and may enhance your sense of visual comfort.
Is UV Protection the Same As Blue Light Protection?
Sunglasses can reduce some of your exposure to blue light, but they may not block the entire spectrum of blue light. Certain sunglasses tints, such as dark amber, are most effective at reducing the amount of blue light exposure from a digital screen.
Choose sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection and they will likely also filter out some blue-violet light, also known as high-energy visible (HEV) light rays.
Adding a UV coating and blue light filtering coating to your eyeglasses will filter out much of the blue-violet light emitted from LED screens as well. Since blue-violet light is emitted from LED screens, and UV rays and blue-violet light are emitted from the sun, it may be worthwhile to opt for both coatings to ensure extra protection.
Gamers and computer users who spend long hours on a screen may even want to opt for lenses in a bronze, copper, or reddish-brown tint to filter out a larger spectrum of blue light and enhance their eye comfort.
How Long Does UV Protection Last?
It’s possible for UV protection to decrease after years of wear, so it’s a good practice to replace your eyewear every few years. When shopping for the right style, make sure to consider the fit and temple coverage as well. These elements can provide additional protection for people regularly exposed to heavy, direct sunlight.
Be sure to double-check product details to ensure you’re getting full coverage. FramesDirect offers a UV coating that can be added at checkout, so no matter what frames you choose, you can be certain your eyes are shielded from 100% of the sun’s harmful rays.
FramesDirect offers thousands of sunglasses and eyeglasses from top designers and brands. Contact us with any questions about specific frames or how to add UV coating to your glasses.
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Blue-violet light is between 400 nm and 455 nm as stated by ISO TR20772-2018. (ISO: International Standards Organization – “Ophthalmic optics – Spectacles lenses – Short Wavelength visible solar radiation and the eye, FD ISO/TR 20772”)
Reviewed by Sonia Kelley, 7/13/2023
