Glasses Technology

Nineteen current makes of sports glasses and six older types of sunglasses were tested for spectral UV transmission. Transmissions in the UVB range (280–320 nm) were less than 10^-4; all glasses therefore offered 100% protection against keratitis. Transmissions of UVA radiation (320–400 nm) varied greatly. All makes transmitted varying small amounts of cataract effective UVA radiation, but the effectiveness for cataract is less than 0.15% in the UVA range. If lateral incident radiation is shielded, sports glasses protect against ocular damage from solar UV radiation even in a very bright environment.

Keywords: UV protection, sports glasses, keratitis, cataract
WALTER AMBACH, MARIO BLUMTHALER, and JULIAN GROBNER

Journal of Wilderness Medicine
0953-9859, Volume 6, Issue 1, 1995, Pages 29-33