Diana dares to ask: Do cheap sunglasses provide the same amount of UV ray protection as more expensive sunglasses? Does it matter? I understand the FDA does not regulate this (not that I think they should…) but how can we tell if the shades we’re buying will protect our eyes or potentially harm them?
The Right Brain’s squinty replay: 
This is a very important question Diane! Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can burn your skin AND the corneas and conjunctivas of your eyes. Plus, long-term UV exposure can lead to eye disease like cataracts (clouding of the lens) and macular degeneration (breakdown of the macula) Sunglasses that block this UV light are a great way to help protect your vision, but you don’t need to spend a bundle to do it.
Good guidelines
You’re right that the FDA doesn’t regulate sunglasses. But the American National Standards Institute has set some guidelines that can help you pick the right pair. They say that glasses should block UVB by 99% and UVA radiation by 95 percent. Here’s the important part - the glasses should indicate the level of protection they provide. If the glasses aren’t labeled with a specific UV claim then DON’T BUY THEM because it’s impossible to know how much protection they will provide. And don’t assume that “special” lenses block UV. Blue blockers, polycarbonate, and polarized lenses may block SOME UV light but without special coatings these lenses DO NOT meet the UV minimum blockage requirements. Make sure the glasses are clearly labeled with the type of protection the offer.
What to look for
Look for these voluntary industry labels that (hopefully) manufacturers are using:
- “Cosmetic” = 70% UV reduction
- “General purpose” = 95% UV reduction
- “Special purpose” = 99% UV reduction
- “UV-400″ and “UV absorption up to 400nm” = 99% to 100% UV reduction
Also, you should know that the UV protectant coating doesn’t have a color, so don’t be tricked into thinking that darker lenses provde better protection. Also, remember that the tint or color of the lens doesn’t matter.
Cost is not critical
UV labeling is what you should look for, not a high price tag. We quote the Glaucoma Research Institute
The good news is that sunglasses don’t have to be expensive to protect your eyes and they can often be found at the local drugstore. Unfortunately, a high price is not always a guarantee of high quality and protection. Part of the difficulty is that standards and labeling regarding UV protection are voluntary, not mandatory-and can be confusing.
The Beauty Brains bottom line
Don’t be cheated by Chanel, fooled by Fendi, or duped by Donna Karin. Look for proper UV labeling and save some money!
What do YOU think? Do you buy expensive sunglasses because you think they work better? Leave a comment for the rest of Beauty Brains community.
References:
Mayo Clinic
Glaucoma Research Institut
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Weight Loss Natural Supplements Says:
Designer sunglasser are fashionable and trendy so if UV protection is not included, you can alway wear a screen lotion or something to prevent sun damage.
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Marie Says:
WLNS: How can you put sunscreen lotion on your eyes? Sunglasses should be worn to protect more than the delicate skin around your eyes….they should be worn to protect your eye health.
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Lauren Says:
I personally agree with the article that the sunglasses you wear should offer good UV protection. I got a pair of Liz Claiborne sunglasses that are totally stylish and offer maximum UV protection (at least that is what the website said). So it is possible to get stylish shades that have good UV protection, you just have to research and shop around.
quick link: do your sunglasses’ price tag matter? | All that & a . . . Says:
[...] See the Beauty Brains’ whole explanation about sunglasses protection. [...]
Jessika Says:
“Designer sunglasser are fashionable and trendy so if UV protection is not included, you can alway wear a screen lotion or something to prevent sun damage.”
Sun screen on your eyeballs? That sounds like fun. : ]
Did you read the article at all?? Its about protecting your EYES. Wearing sunscreen isn’t going to protect your EYES, obviously.
kikay exchange » Blog Archive » The Skinny on Sunnies Says:
[...] very informative piece in The Beauty Brains finally laid to rest all of my questions regarding “Designer Sunglasses vs. Cheap [...]
Wolfeyes7 Says:
I have worn Oakley M-Frames for almost 30 years now — with a few breaks in between of wearing the less expensive drugstore variety… I wear Oakleys for their awesome design, comfort, coolness factor and the ultimate UV protection — I mean come on with Oakley, you get Thermonuclear Protection… what could be better than that? LOL! Seriously though, they are one of the best in eye protection and you can now buy them on Ebay for a fraction of the retail cost — a win-win situation all the way around!
Seriously?!? Says:
To Weight Loss Natural Supplements…
Uh… you DO realize sunglasses are to protect THE EYES, don’t you? Are YOU really going to put sunscreen in your eyes?
Wait, don’t answer that question.. You probably would.
JMO!
Carol Mulka Says:
Do transition lenses offer the same UV protection as sunglasses?
optomeyes Says:
article is correct. Price is not an indicator of protection. However, there is a reason reputable brands are only found in eye doctor’s office, optical boutique, and higher end department stores. As the article states, the industry is not regulated. Therefore, how do you know for sure a $5 pair of made in China Chanel knock-off with a sticker that says UV400 really protects your eyes? On the other hand, while you don’t need a $300 pair of Chanel, a $50 pair of Guess from Macy’s might not be a bad investment to ensure eye safety
optomeyes Says:
Carol, as previous posts have stated, it is not the color that matters. UV treatment is clear. Therefore ANY pair of glasses can protect your eyes as long as it has the UV treatment. Almost all prescription glasses we wear have UV protection even though they don’t darken outside. Additionally, a pair of cheapo sunglasses that may not be well made can be even more harmful. Imagine your eyes like a camera. In dim lighting, the pupil (central dark area of your eye) must dilate. If it dilates, it lets in more light. If the sunglasses have poor UV protection, it’s letting in more harmful UV rays than if you were wearing a clear pair of glasses, because if the lenses were not dark, the pupil would not dilate as much, therefore less harm done…something else to think about…
optomeyes Says:
another thing…many designer brands do offer superior technology. Oakleys, for example, have their proprietary lens technology. Maui Jims are also awesome. I own a pair personally for many years. Due to the polarization filter, anti-glare treatment, I swear I see better with those sunglasses than with my Ray Bans. With the proliferation of eBay, that’s a great place to buy designer eyewear on the cheap. Majority of sellers are reputable. However, there is always that tiny risk…so if you’re ultra-conservative, stick to your eye doctor’s office or sunglass hut.
EyecareProf420yrs Says:
Your article is very misleading. Most drugstore sunglasses have a SPRAY ON UV filter that wears off after time. Optical grade and designer lenses have the UV filter built into the lens where it does not wear off after multiple cleanings. The color of the lenses DO matter, you should stay away from blue, pink, and orange lenses.
Eyeguy Says:
With Glass lenses the uv filter is a coating applied to the outside of the lens. Scratch the lens and there goes your protection. With polymer lenses such as Poycarbonate and polyurethane the UV protection is homgenous to the lens and cannot be scratched off. Blue lenses are not preferable because this wavelength is difficult for the eye to focus without creating color abberations and eyestrain. This was the reasoning behind BlueBlockers. Orange and pink lenses aid in contrast which is why skiers use them. They are not harmful pre se but may distort other colors. If you’re paying over $50.00 for sunglasses or they are a name brand chances are very good they are UV 400.
karen Says:
I am a rep for Maui Jim sunglasses. And I have been in the Optical Business for 29 years. There is a HUGE difference in lens quality. THE drugstore lenses are CRAP and do not have Optical quality lens. You are looking thru cheap warped plasic!! Go ahead buy a pair of $20 cheap glasses. Then try a pair of REAL sunglasses and see the difference!
Maui Jim’s block 100% UV up to 400NM
they carry two patents and have a 7 layer and 9 layer lens technology that included back side Anti reflective coating and front side bi-gradient coating. All are Polarized. That is all we do!!
And you can get them in RX.
THis article is full of bad advise.
If you spend 20 bucks on a pair of sunglasses that’s what you get. CRAP
that does not protect your eyes from the sun.
Islandgirl Says:
The first comment by WLNS is pure comedy, sounds like something you would hear on Saturday Night Live or MadTV.
On a serious note, I live in Barbados and all the opticians here recommend Oakleys or RayBans for protection. These brands offer the best protection for the eye. The cheap ones indeed do get scratched up and become ineffective very quickly, so buying an expensive pair does pay off in the end.
Unfortunately I can’t comment on other designer brands such as Chanel or Gucci as here in the islands they are mostly used for style and not as protection.
Kevin Says:
This article is a bit misleading. While it is true that you need to look for labels indicating UV-400 protection it should be noted that the “cheap sunglasses” only have this protection for a few days after purchasing them. The reason is with cheap sunglasses this protection rubs off when you clean your sunglasses. Cheap sunglasses are dipped in a coating which easily comes off within the first few times you wipe or clean your sunglasses. Quality sunglasses use lenses which have the UV filter as an inherent part of the lens. So if you don’t care about protecting your eyes buy the cheap sunglasses. But if you want to protect your eyes while looking stylish too you may want to invest in a high quality pair of sunglasses. Ray-Ban, Serengetti, Revo, Oakley, Anne Klein,Maui Jim, Prada, Dolce & Gabana are all examples of designer names which will offer the maximum UV protection.
James Says:
I just bought a pair of persol glasses, and I am wondering whether they have a high enough UV protection. If anyone knows how good they are, please respond.
thanks
Will E Says:
The cheap glasses may offer the UV protection, but will cheap lenses distort or damage your vision?
Eugene A Says:
What about transition lenses? Do transition lenses have to carry the same label regarding UV protection?
Jay Says:
I must say I have read a wide variety of statements regarding sunglasses and their protection. This is my 24th year as a licensed optician and I must say most of what has been said is only partial truths. Yes Maui Jim, Revo, Ray Ban, and many others make terrific sunglasses that block UV light, are polarized (which removes reflections from surfaces such as water and windshields), and many use an anti reflective coating to enhance the clarity of the vision thru them while stopping reflections from light behind you. So lets talk about protection. Polycarbonate lenses offer the best UV protection as it is an inherent quality of the lens. Polycarbonate is also the safest lens for you to wear during outdoor activities as it has the highest impact resistance of any lens on the market. Polarized lenses, because they remove reflections and glare provide the most comfortable vision. Overall the best protective lenses on the market today are the polycarbonate polarized lenses from Coppertone. They block both UV A and B as well as HEV (High Energy Visible) light in the violet blue spectrum up to 500nm. This is a relatively new product and is not well known. the manufacturer is Vision Ease. And just to spell some of those rumors, I work in a private Ophthalmology practice and I shop my competitors on a regular basis so this statement should be taken for what it is…Wal-Mart Opticals offer polycarbonate polarized sunglasses, manufactured my Vision Ease, for as little as $35. Any reputable optician will steer you to polycarbonate polarized lenses for maximum safety and protection. And if you want the best, look for the Coppertone label!!! And no, sunblock on your eyes does nothing but burn them!!!
Jay Says:
If you are questioning the UV block on your lenses, many opticians have a photometer which measures both UV protection and light transmission.
Dave Says:
What you did not mention is how the lens are made in the first place. If the lens are not made to the same standard as prescription glasses, your eyes have to strain themselves to un-scatter the light as it passes through the lens. So yes, UV protection is important, but also having lenses that focus the light properly to your eye is just as important to prevent strain and damage.
Munkstump Says:
Well, at least one other person here knows the drill. A $5 pair of Chinese fakies, literally from the street, can be labeled however they want to be, whith their-non-optically correct, ill-seated, toy-plastic lenses,And stripped-head frame screws.
That is not to say that designer ones are not Chinese. But there is at least, some accountability in construction quality with a pair of Ray-bans vs. No-brands.
It is true, most people buy expensive glasses for the look. If UV protection is your main concern, you cn get tinted safety glasses. They offer considerably more protection than sunglasses. I use them when I’m cutting steel with a plasma torch.They are still light enough to walk around with.
James Dawson Says:
screen lotion… wear sun screen lotion in your eyes? what’s the matter with you, we are talking about eye protection here!
The Windrunner Says:
I have 3 pair of Rudy Projects, all over $140.00 per pair. They are stylish with full optical quality UV 400 polycarbonate lenses,RP-D-centered, and much prefer them over all the silly looking Qakleys out there with those inflated price tags.
Mitchell Says:
Take the test yourself, go buy a pair of cheapos for $20 and then try a pair of Maui Jims (my brand of choice)(Sunglass Hut allows exchanges as long as you don’t damage them). They may offer the same protection when you purchase, but after only a few days the protection on the cheapos diminishes. Also, the Mauis offer vision clarity far beyond the other pair.
skipbond Says:
I use BluBlockers. They are the best cheapo you can find . You can see everything clearly and the sun doesn’t hurt you eyes even if you look directly at the sun.
Jonathan B Says:
HUGE Health-Hazard MISSED here … NO sunglasses are SAFER than BAD sunglasses. Any darkened lens lowers the visible light brightness, allowing your IRIS to open up MORE. This allows even MORE UV in (if they don’t block UV well that is). With NO sunglasses, your iris would close tighter and reduce the amount coming in - safer. Don’t “fool” your IRIS with BAD sunglasses. For this reason, it seems criminal to me for anyone to make/sell sunglasses that do NOT provide lasting UV protection. If anyone wanted to “design” a tricky way to harm people’s eyes long-term, this would be how to do it. Biology class and Physics class do come in handy sometimes.
nouf Says:
nice
Laurie Says:
You can get quality designer sunglasses for $25 and above online, they are backed by companies like Icon Eyeware.
The reason why some of them are so expensive is because the retail and optical shops make over 100-300% margin on them. So a pair Ray-ban that cost $35 to make is selling for $100 and above.
Here is a site that you can compare prices:
http://sunglassesdirect.zlio.net/