Test UV protection of sunglasses: you should be aware of this

Sunglasses are definitely a fashion accessory, but UV protection should be the main focus. However, it is not so easy for the layperson to test UV protection. However, there are some criteria that you should consider when buying sunglasses for your health.

Sunglasses: That's why testing UV protection is important

The concentrated power of the sun's rays hits not only our skin, but also our sensitive eyes. Accordingly, we should give the eyes the best possible protection - this applies all the more when we are on the beach or in the snow.

• With fashionable sunglasses that may look stylish but offer little or no protection, you can do great damage to your eyes.
• Exposing your eyes to the dangerous ultraviolet radiation for too long without protection can quickly lead to conjunctivitis or corneal inflammation. In the worst case, you risk irreparable damage to the retinal cells. This increases the risk of developing the dreaded cataracts or macular degeneration not insignificantly.
• When buying sunglasses, especially if you spend a lot of time in the sun, you should pay particular attention to competent advice.
• Unfortunately, many full-bodied names are misleading and in no way guarantee optimal protection for your eyes.
• Tip: If you have sunglasses at home where you are unsure whether they really offer optimal protection, have them checked by an optician.

This is how you recognize good sunglasses

When buying sunglasses, do not rely on melodious names, as they are often misleading. Terms like 100 percent UV protection sound good, but they are not really. You should also stay away from very cheap sunglasses even if you have the CE mark. Regardless of the fact that the CE mark does not stand for the best protection, it is also very popular to fake it and you have little opportunity to test it yourself.

• The CE mark only means that the sunglasses meet the requirements of the corresponding EU directive. All sunglasses sold in Europe must meet these minimum requirements.
• Accordingly, the CE mark is by no means a special quality feature, but merely means that the sunglasses meet the minimum requirements. And the minimum requirements are quite modest: The sunglasses have to offer UV protection up to 380 nanometers. According to the EU directive, this applies to 100 percent UV protection.
• This in turn means that the full-bodied advertising message 100 percent UV protection is also not a special additional quality feature of the sunglasses. Strictly speaking, it is even misleading for consumers, because the CE mark already implies this statement.
• Basically, the sunglasses are divided into four protection levels. Glasses that only have the CE mark are usually only in protection level 2. These glasses do not really protect the eyes from the dangerous UV rays.
• On the other hand, you are on the safe side with sunglasses of protection level 3. These sunglasses can also be recognized by the UV 400 marking. Your eyes are protected from UV rays with a wavelength of up to 400 nanometers. This means that sunglasses of protection level 3 also keep the particularly dangerous rays away from your eyes.
• The highest protection level 4 is only required if you are traveling on snow-covered mountains. This also protects you against photokeratitis, the so-called snow blindness. However, please note that you are not allowed to wear protection level 4 sunglasses on the road.
• The fact that sunglasses protect the better, the darker the lenses, is also a truism. The opposite is even the case. Wearing sunglasses with dark lenses, but a low level of protection from strong sunlight can damage your eyes. The pupils are automatically dilated by the dark glasses and the UV rays can hit the eye with full force.
• In contrast, dark glasses are good in combination with protection level 3. In addition, the sunglasses should have a wider temple so that the sunlight does not hit the eyes from the side.

The dark circles can be hidden behind the sunglasses, but we will tell you what helps.