The outlook is sunny, but don’t forget UV
protection!
Summer is here and that hopefully means lots of sunshine. This is
proven to have a positive effect on our mood – but beware of the
dangers. Sunlight is composed of powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays. This
segment of the electromagnetic spectrum is imperceptible to humans
and can cause long-term damage not only to our skin, but also the
eye’s cornea and retina. What is the best way to protect ourselves
against this invisible danger?
While it is common practice for sunbathers to protect their skin with
sun lotion as they soak up some rays, the most important sensory organ
– the eye – is often neglected. The consequences can be dire as the eyes
are in fact 20 times more sensitive to UV rays than skin, so even a
short spell in the sunshine without UV protection can be dangerous.
An overdose of UV radiation can lead to conjunctival irritations,
causing the eyes to redden and water. In the long term, this increases
the risk of developing cataracts or other age-related damage of the
retina (macular degeneration).
UV protection from the EXpert
The importance of UV protection at uvex is clearly reflected in the
company name: uvex = Ultra Violet EXcluded. When choosing eyewear
that is suitable for all manner of uses, it is important to check that
the glasses feature a CE label. This is a guarantee that the
fundamental safety requirements in accordance with European
standards are being met. The personal eye protection norm EN 166
prescribes minimum UV protection up to a wavelength of 380
nanometres for safety eyewear. However, harmful light can reach up
to 400 nanometres. For this reason, all uvex safety eyewear with
polycarbonate lenses, whether clear or with a dark grey tint, offers the
maximum possible protection from exposure to UV radiation for
wearers: 100% UV 400 protection.
Glare protection ≠ UV protection
Sunglasses should ideally fulfil two functions: protect the eyes against
harmful UV radiation and prevent glare in bright sunlight. It is a
common misconception that the darker the lenses, the better the level
of protection against damaging rays. The lens tinting is not an
indication of the level of UV protection. Dark lenses without UV filters
can actually be very dangerous as they offer just offer glare protection,
absorbing visible light. This hampers the pupillary reflex, which is
the eye’s natural protective mechanism, meaning that more UV
radiation can in fact penetrate the eye.
The pupillary reflex of the human eye is a form of natural UV protection.
It is therefore important that eyewear has UV filters as well as the
right tint, with the latter being determined by for what purpose the
eyewear will be worn. For example, transmission is in the region of
53% for lens marking 5-1.7 (as assigned to light silver mirror lenses),
providing light glare protection, making this especially suited to
workplaces
with
some
sunshine
or
changeable
weather.
With
transmission of 23%, lens marking 5-2.5 (for example, grey lenses) is
a good choice for Central European latitudes. Lens marking 5-3.1 (as
featured in polavision lenses) offers higher glare protection, making it
appropriate for more southern latitudes. All uvex tint options fulfil
the requirements of the standard EN 172 – Sunglare filters for
industrial use. They can consequently also be worn in traffic and for
transport-related tasks, as they comply with requirements for signal
light recognition.
uvex polavision: advanced sun protection
uvex polavision – modern safety eyewear with UV protection
Rather than traditional sunglasses, which reduce brightness through
the lens tinting, it is advisable to have lenses with polarising filters
when driving or in close proximity to lakes or the ocean. The grey
tinting of these sunglasses also reduces light transmission so everything
will appear less bright. In addition, different light and radiation
wavelengths are absorbed by the integrated polarising filter. This
greatly reduces distracting reflections from water surfaces such as lakes
or of surfaces like a car windscreen, allowing for improved, more
pleasant perception of the surroundings. The polarising filter only lets
waves which oscillate in a certain direction pass and blocks other
waves (see image). The polarising effect can be best explained by trying
out the following easy experiments. Stand in front of a car windscreen.
Sunlight that hits the windscreen is reflected and oscillates in all
directions (see image). As the reflection is so great, it is hard to
distinguish what is behind the windscreen. However, put on a pair of
sunglasses with a polarising filter, such as uvex polavision, and notice
how the contours of the seats behind the windscreen are much clearer.
The filter reduces all irritating reflections to a minimum. A similar
effect can also be observed when looking across a lake. Polarised safety
eyewear provides a much clearer view “below” the surface of the water
as the light reflections on the surface are also being filtered out.
In brief
It is extremely important to wear safety eyewear that includes sun
protection in the bright summer months, as it effectively protects the
eyes against harmful UV radiation, which tend to be particularly
strong in summer. Vision is significantly safer and more pleasant with
tinted lenses. Sunglasses with polarising filters also reduce disruptive
reflections, which greatly enhances comfort.