Sunglasses: protection above all
Sunglasses are not just a fashion accessory: their main task is to protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays and reduce glare. Over the years, exposure to UV rays is in fact one of the risk factors for certain eye problems, such as cataracts.
How to recognize quality sunglasses
- CE mark: indicates that the eyewear complies with European standards for sunglasses (EN ISO 12312-1), including protection against UV rays.
- UV protection: look for the label "100% UV" or "UV400".
- Filter category, from 0 to 4, indicated on the temple or label: it tells you how dark the lens is. Category 3 is the most common for summer; category 4 is for high mountains and glaciers but should not be used for driving.
- Comfortable and stable frame, which also provides good side protection.
Be wary of glasses without a CE mark or without information on the filter, as is often the case with market stalls and unreliable websites.
Why a dark lens without a UV filter is dangerous
Behind a dark lens, the eye protects itself less on its own: we stop squinting and the pupil remains more dilated. If the lens does not filter out UV rays, more of them reach the eye than without glasses: this is why poor-quality sunglasses can be worse than no glasses at all. Without protection, especially at the beach and in the snow, UV rays can cause painful inflammation of the cornea (keratitis) after just a few hours.
Sunglasses for children
In children, the crystalline lens is more transparent than in an adult's and lets more UV rays reach the inside of the eye. This is why it is important to get them used to wearing children's sunglasses with 100% UV protection early on, preferably with soft and resistant frames, along with a hat and playing in the sun during the cooler hours.
Lens color
- Gray: darkens uniformly and keeps colors most natural. Suitable for almost all uses.
- Brown: increases contrast, useful in variable light and while driving; it alters colors slightly.
- Green: a middle ground, with fairly natural colors and good contrast.
- Yellow/orange: for low light or fog, for example in the snow with an overcast sky.
Nearsighted and farsighted: the color trick
Light is not all focused on the same point: warm colors (red, orange) focus a little further back, cool colors (green, blue) a little further forward. It is the same principle as the red-green test used during eye exams. Therefore, for those who do not wear a prescription, an old opticians' tip suggests:
- brown lenses for those who are slightly nearsighted;
- green lenses for those who are slightly farsighted.
This is a small comfort aid, not a correction: if the vision defect is not mild, the best solution is sunglasses with your prescription.
Polarized lenses reduce reflections on water, snow, and wet asphalt.
The optician's advice
The right color and category depend on your vision and how you will use the eyewear: driving, beach, mountains, sports. In our store in Pieve di Soligo, we will help you choose the most suitable pair.