What does UV400 mean on glasses?

Sunglasses are a must-have item on any clear day. This is not only a stylish accessory, but also, mainly, salvation from harmful ultraviolet radiation. Therefore, it is important to be able to choose the right model and know how fakes differ from originals.

What do the numbers on sunglasses mean?

If you look closely and place special emphasis on certain details, you will notice that there are various symbolic symbols on the temples (and sometimes on the glasses themselves). For the most part, they are a guarantee of quality.

So, here's what responsible manufacturers put on their copies:

• “Made in...” inscriptions indicate the country in which the glasses were produced. You should beware of those that say “design in”, “frame” or “produced”. There is a high probability that this is not an original sample;
• British standard (BS 2742), German (DIN 58217) or American (ANSI Z80) encoding - indicates that the model was produced in accordance with established international requirements.If the numbers and symbols in such lines are mixed up or replaced, then you have a “linden” in your hands;
• the letters “P”, “RB” or others symbolize belonging to a particular brand (in this case, “Polaroid” and “Ray Ban”). Often the year of manufacture is also indicated next to it;
• five digits that do not fit into any of the above categories - the serial number of the product;
• “Filter Cat 2” - this wording reveals the darkness class. There are four of them in total (each number indicates correspondence to a specific group). The first number is assigned to ordinary transparent glass, and the fourth allows less than 10% of light to pass through (they are usually chosen by skiers).

Most likely, this information will not fit entirely on the optics itself. Therefore, manufacturers attach a special certificate, which details all the related data.

And yet, what is the fundamental difference between a fake and a genuine sample? As a rule, the former do not fulfill their main function - they do not provide protection from active rays. As a result, apart from a spectacular appearance, there will be no benefit from such an attribute. At the same time, the latter guarantee complete safety.

What does uv400 mean on sunglasses?

This symbolism requires attention. It tells exactly what percentage of UV rays pass through the lenses.

Ultraviolet radiation from the sun (ultraviolet) can be divided into three categories: UVA, UVB and UVC. The rays of the third group will not harm you, since they simply do not reach the earth's surface (they are perfectly retained by the ozone layer). The second and first ones pass freely through the ozone and can then be absorbed by our body in any quantity. As a result, there is a risk of skin cancer, cataracts, glaucoma, conjunctivitis and other terrible diseases.

UV-A and UV-B radiation have a wavelength range from 280 to 400 nanometers (nm). Hence the inscription “uv400”, which means that the glasses block light waves up to 400 nm.

Reference: specialized models for places or occupations that require active solar lighting of high brightness are designated “uv600”. They are suitable for surfers or climbers.

It turns out that if the label contains a smaller number (for example, 380 or 360), then your health is in danger.

Some manufacturers indicate both spectrums at once. You can often find such designations as “95% UVB and 60% UVA”. Accordingly, 95% of B rays and 60 of C rays are transmitted here.

And also sometimes such markings are replaced with:

1. “Cosmetic” is an ordinary props. They let more than 50% through, serve as a stylish decoration, but nothing more. It is not recommended to use them in high light conditions.
2. “General” - neutralizes up to 80% of ultraviolet radiation. They are quite suitable for the safety of your eyes in the usual gray urban environment.
3. “High UV-protection” – thanks to the strongest filters, they guarantee complete prevention of eye diseases. Provide up to 100% protection.

To accurately verify the veracity of the information specified in the certificate (or engraved on the surface), you can ask to check the pair on a special device - a spectrophotometer. Any good store should have this in stock. In just a few seconds you will receive confirmation or denial of quality.

We must not forget about the importance of such a parameter as color. By and large, the color of the glass does not matter. The only warning: do not try to buy the darkest glasses.Such optics, firstly, will provide you with poor visibility, and, consequently, greater tension in the eye muscles, and secondly, it will help your pupils to dilate. Thus, if you buy a cheap fake optical accessory with black lenses, there is a high probability that you will only make the situation worse. A wide pupil, unprotected by interference filters, will “catch” even more harmful rays. The consequences are not difficult to imagine. It is best to pay attention to gray, green or brown colors.

And, in the end, it would be a good idea to inquire about the availability of the following additions:

1. The abrasion-resistant material will allow you not to worry about premature aging of your glasses. Promotes resistance to scratches and cracks.
2. A polarizing filter or anti-reflective coating ensures clear visibility without any interference. This feature is important for relaxing by the water.
3. The mirror coating completely hides your eyes from prying eyes. You can look anywhere, the direction of your gaze will remain a mystery. These lenses completely reflect all light.
4. Melanin on the inside will save you from excessive eye fatigue.
5. Gradient color will be especially interesting to motorists. When looking at the road in such optics, reliable protection from the blinding sun is provided, thanks to the darkened top. At the same time, the light bottom contributes to an excellent overview of the instrument panel.

Now you can safely go to the store. If you correctly navigate the labeling, then purchasing the much-needed detail of your everyday look will not be difficult.