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I'm aware of the need to protect skin from UV damage, but how at risk are eyes?
I work outdoors all day, 5 days a week and spend my days off, with any luck, out on the bike so outside a fair bit.
The sunglasses I have all carry a CE mark, but should I be looking for a pair with the UV400 mark or is there much of a muchness between the two ratings?
Like most folk probably, I only really wear them when it's bright and sunny and don't wear prescription glasses. Should we all be taking eye protection from UV more seriously and start wearing clear lenses with UV protection more often, or am I simply vastly overthinking it? 😎
Interesting question. I have worn bifocal prescription lenses almost all the time outdoors for 20 years. Google suggests that my lenses should be OK.
"Photochromic lenses: These lenses darken automatically outdoors and block 100% of the sun’s UV rays without the need for an added coating."
My wife has pterigyum from over exposure to uv growing up in Australia. Red haired forester I know had them so bad he had surgery.
Check the brand details, most should tell you. If you need cheap work ones then look at the bolle safety glasses with a tint, you won't care if you scratch or step on them then as they are that cheap
Optician commented that my eyes looked to have some UV damage at my last checkup, no doubt a result of being a postie for 13 years and recreational cyling for 8 years. I've rarely worn tinted sunglasses that might have some UV protection, because I thought the tint was reducing the positive effect of the sunlight combating my SAD a little. Think my latest specs have a UV filter.
CE marked should mean they have the correct protection, unless they are some cheapo ones that might not meet any standards but they write it on anyway.
if I wore specs and worked outside I would pay the £15 to get full UV protection (to 400nm) on the clear pair as well as sunnies.
I tested this years ago, polycarbonate lenses meet the uv400 spec, clear or tinted.
Doesn't matter if they are marked CE or not, cost 25p or £250.
A mirror finish gives more protection and polarised less.
It was pointed out by a French Pharmacist, when we were shopping for some eye safe moisturiser, that light coloured eyes such as blue or hazel are more susceptible to UV damage. She was quite adamant we should both wear sunglasses at the slightest hint of a nice day.
Both me and my OH have light blue eyes.
I had no idea. I guess coming from the land of damp, to be expected.
If you buy glasses with polycarbonate lenses they won't let UV through, it's just a function of the material.
In science if you want to get something that doesn't block UV you spend a lot of money.
The cheapest thing to make glasses out of is polycarbonate and that does the job.
For sunlight I feel we would have heard about serious issues if there were any.
If you buy glasses with polycarbonate lenses they won't let UV through, it's just a function of the material.
I became aware of this years ago - the only reason for spending more on lenses for sunglasses is better optical clarity. I’ve got some Oakley Si M-Frames, which are issued to American armed forces, and sold as PPE here in the U.K., with either clear or dark tinted lenses. The difference between them and ordinary M-Frames is the lenses lock into place in case of a hard impact, which could knock the lens out of a standard frame. I got a bunch of tinted lenses that fit with the locking system from Amazon, from Galaxylense.com, they’re about a tenner each, and work perfectly fine. Revant Lenses are now available in Europe and the U.K., their lenses are outstanding, and cheaper than original Oakleys, I bought a Fire Iridium analog from them, and I’m wearing them all the time when it really bright, but I have a cheap Galaxy lens that’s photoreactive from almost clear to a fairly dark grey, and clarity-wise pretty much indistinguishable from the Revant and the supplied Oakley lens.
These are the ones I’ve got, from the U.K. supplier - the difference between these and the standard M-Frame is they’re a lot sturdier, and the clip in the centre top of the frame, which has a little pin that clicks into a hole in the lens.