UV Protection Glasses: Is UV Protection on Glasses Worth It?

Published on July 19th, 2024

Updated on July 9th, 2025

UV protection glasses are designed to protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet rays, which can cause damage to your eyes and the skin around them. UV protection glasses are able to provide protection for your eyes as they are equipped with UV coating on the lens or are incorporated into the lens material. The UV coating on the glasses works by either absorbing or reflecting the UV light. Wearing glasses with UV protection can help prevent long-term damage from the sun’s harmful rays. UV radiation is made up of UVA which measures around 315-400 nm, UVB measuring at 280-315 nm and UVC which is measured around 100-280 nm, according to the World Health Organisation. UVA disseminates completely through the earth’s atmosphere and 15% of UVB is disseminated through the earth’s atmosphere with the remaining being absorbed by the ozone layer. UVC is fully absorbed by the ozone and does not reach the earth’s surface, according to the Cancer Council.

What are UV Protection Glasses?

UV protection glasses are glasses with special lenses that are either coated with UV protection on the lens or have UV protection built into them. UV protection glasses function by blocking, reflecting or absorbing the UVA and UVB rays, impeding them from reaching the eyes and preventing long-term damage.

Glasses labelled with its different parts including UV protection lenses.

Is UV Protection on Glasses Worth It?

Yes, UV protection on glasses is worth it as overexposure to the sun can increase the risk of developing eye cancer, cataracts and growths on the eye. Therefore, UV protection lenses can lower the risk of developing these eye conditions. UV sunglasses should be good quality and provide protection against the sun’s UV rays with a minimum of lens category 3.

How Does the UV Coating on Glasses Protect Your Eyes?

The UV protection coating on glasses protects your eyes by blocking, absorbing or reflecting the UV that is emitted from the sun. The UV coating on the glasses consists of a thin layer of components that help to either block, absorb or reflect UV radiation.

Why are UV Protection Glasses Important for Eye Health?

UV protection glasses are important for eye health as they can prevent the risk of developing major eye diseases and eye cancer. The sun’s UV rays can cause damage to the surface tissues of the eye as well as the cornea and lens according to Turbert (2024) in the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Therefore, UV protection glasses are essential for eye health to lower the risk of accumulating damage to your eyes and the skin around them.

Infographic of different eye conditions that can develop from prolonged exposure to the sun’s UV.

Do UV Protection Glasses Need Prescription?

No, UV protection glasses don’t need a prescription. Both prescription and non-prescription glasses can feature UV protection with most optical eyewear companies offering prescription glasses and non-prescription glasses with UV protection already embedded into the lens material.

What are Different Types of UV Protection Glasses?

The different types of UV protection glasses are multifocal lenses, photochromic lenses, tinted lenses, high index lenses, single vision lenses, blue light filter lenses and polarised lenses. These options offer UV 400 protection and are all available at Oscar Wylee. The different types of UV protection glasses are listed below.

Multifocal Lenses: Multifocal lenses contain three different prescriptions, near, intermediate and distance to correct a person’s vision. Multifocals have a seamless transition between the three prescriptions.
Photochromic Lenses: Photochromic lenses are prescription lenses with a chemical coating that causes the lenses to darken in response to ultraviolet rays emitted from the sun.
Tinted Lenses: Tinted lenses are most often used in sunglasses as a fashionable eyewear statement and personal customisation that offers UV protection. However, due to their colour, they may not provide protection against glare from the sun.
High Index Lenses: High index lenses are a type of lens that is lighter and thinner than the standard lens and are ideal for those who have a high prescription.
Single Vision Lenses: Single vision lenses contain one prescription over the entire lens which is used to correct a single vision issue which can include near vision and distance vision.
Blue Light Filter: Blue light filter lenses are designed to block potentially harmful artificial blue light rays emitted by digital screens.
Polarised lenses: Polarised lenses are a type of glasses lens that reduces glare and offers UV protection. Polarisation can either be built into the lens material or applied as a coating over the lens.

What Should You Consider When Choosing UV Protection Glasses?

You should consider the level of UV protection, lens shade darkness, whether you want polarised lenses and the size. The factors to consider when choosing UV protection glasses are listed below.

Level of UV Protection: You should consider if the level of UV protection is sufficient when choosing UV protection glasses. The ideal level of UV protection is UV 400, which should block 100% of UV rays from reaching your eyes, according to All About Vision.
Lens Shade Darkness: Lens shade darkness is important to consider when choosing UV protection glasses as darker colour lenses can help reduce glare.
Polarised Lenses: You may want to opt for polarised glasses if you are frequently outdoors, especially in bright and sunny conditions.
Size: It may be useful to consider the size when selecting UV protection glasses since larger frame sizes can offer more protection as they cover more of the face.

How Do UV Protection Glasses Keep Your Eyes Healthy?

UV protection glasses keep your eyes healthy by hindering UV rays from reaching your eyes which can cause long-term damage over time. UV is found to be one of the contributing factors in developing eye cancer, eye growths and eye diseases. Therefore, eliminating or reducing UV exposure is paramount in maintaining eye and vision health.

Can Wearing UV Protection Glasses Help Prevent Eye Diseases?

Yes, wearing UV protection glasses can help prevent eye diseases. Wearing UV protection glasses can help with reducing the risk of preventing cataracts, pterygium and eye cancer. Therefore, it is important to establish the habit of wearing your UV protection glasses whenever your eyes are exposed to the sun and to get regular eye tests, which help with detecting eye diseases.

Why are UV Protection Glasses Important for Outdoor Activities?

UV protection glasses are important for outdoor activities as they block the sun’s UV rays from harming your eyes and affecting your vision. They are especially important for outdoor activities as extended exposure to direct sunlight can mean more risk of damage.

Why are UV Protection Glasses Important When Driving?

UV protection glasses are important when driving as the sunlight can still reach your eyes through your windshield and cause harm. The brightness of the sun can peak during midday or the afternoon, which can disrupt safe and comfortable driving if you do not wear sunglasses.

Driver’s point of view showing hand on steering wheel and sunlight reaching windshield.

Why are UV Protection Glasses Important For Work?

UV protection glasses are important for work if your role is based outdoors or requires you to drive during the day for long periods. UV protection glasses can ensure your eyes are protected from UV rays which can accumulate damage over time. Wearing UV protection glasses or sunglasses can also provide more comfort and help prevent eye strain if you are outdoors during sunny weather.

Do Children Need UV Protection Glasses?

Yes, children need UV protection glasses to ensure their eyes are protected during extended sun exposure. Prescription glasses in most cases already contain UV protection, however, children who don’t wear prescription glasses may need to wear UV protection sunglasses. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, a child’s eyes are still developing and are therefore more vulnerable to the sun’s harmful UV rays.

What is the Difference Between UV Protection Glasses and Polarised Glasses?

The difference between UV protection glasses and polarised glasses is what they are designed to be used for. Polarised glasses or sunglasses are primarily designed to reduce glare, whereas UV protection glasses or sunglasses are designed to protect the eyes from Ultraviolet or UV rays emitted by the sun. Sunglasses that are polarised will usually have UV protection, however, it is important to speak with your optometrist or eyewear provider about what protection sunglasses offer. At Oscar Wylee, all of our polarised glasses have UV 400 protection. UV protection glasses and polarised glasses are both important and useful eyewear that can provide protection for wearers.

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