Sunglasses are the perfect complement to your look and are also necessary to protect you from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays. But be careful, according to a study by the Complutense University of Madrid , 90% of cheap sunglasses do not comply with the European regulations that regulate this product . Something that can seriously harm your eyes if you do not take it into account. Take note of our tips and tricks to choose sunglasses, find out if they are good and which are the best for you.
Avoid risks
The first thing to do is check that they bear the "CE" symbol , which indicates that the manufacturer complies with the stipulated European safety and quality standards.
- This label is easily falsifiable. This is why you often only have true guarantees of safety and quality if you buy them from an optician. This will ensure that you are not seduced by a bargain that, in the long run, can be expensive.
Wearing bad glasses is worse than not wearing them
Using non-approved or counterfeit glasses is worse than not wearing them, since when receiving less light the pupil dilates, thus being more vulnerable to harmful radiation.
- Watch out! Poor quality lenses let UV rays through.
Use them wisely
In addition, to protect your eyesight, it is not enough that the model complies with the regulations, you also have to try to choose the right model for you and use it (and not as a headband).
- Eye to the data. Spaniards are the Europeans who use them the least despite the enormous amount of sunlight we receive, which means that we should wear them all year round. Not only in summer. In this way, we can prevent vision problems such as burns, macular degeneration, or even cancer.
Apart from being approved by the EU, the lenses must protect 100% from ultraviolet rays . Depending on the use you are going to give it, you will need one filter or another, designed for different outdoor conditions.
Protection levels
Lens protection levels are measured on a scale of 0 to 4.
- The 0 only protects from dim light.
- The 1 is for cloudy days.
- The 2 for normal activity.
- The 3 is the one indicated in summer and the best for a country like Spain.
- The 4 is reserved for high mountain or water sports.
Classes of crystals
You should also invest in good crystals. It is one of the most important parts.
- Mineral crystals are more brittle, but they scratch less.
- Organic cysts have the advantage that they are stronger and lighter.
- Reject plastic models.
Does the color of the crystals matter?
Protection depends on the filter, but color influences vision and the important thing is that it does not distort it. The gray hardly modifies the tones. Browns and greens increase contrasts without altering perception. Pinks or blues do. Choose yellow and orange for cloudy days. And in addition to the color you can also choose if they are:
- Polarized : Eliminate reflections from water, snow or asphalt.
- Mirrors : Maximum protection against UVA in the snow, the sea or the mountains.
- Photochromic : They darken according to the intensity of light. For prescription glasses.
- Anti-glare : Prevents light from bouncing off the inside of the lens.
- Gradient : The lens goes from darker to lighter, providing sharpness.
And if you want, discover how to choose sunglasses according to the shape of your face.
Should children wear sunglasses?
Children are more affected by sunlight because their lenses are not fully developed. It is best to avoid prolonged exposures. A cap with a brim is usually enough to prevent damage. But if we are talking about long exposures or in areas with high solar incidence such as mountains, they must be equipped with glasses that have approved lenses.
