Eye Protection: Sunglasses Are Sunscreen for Your Eyes
UV damages your eyes too — and most sunglasses help.
Cumulative UV exposure is a recognized risk factor for cataracts and other eye conditions, and the WHO and AAO recommend lenses that block 99-100% of UVA and UVB (UV400) rather than relying on tint darkness.
Ophthalmologists note that a dark lens without UV protection can be worse than none, because it widens the pupil and lets more UV into a relatively unprotected eye — so verified UV400 coverage is what matters.
Questions we get a lot
Can UV exposure damage your eyes?
Yes. Cumulative UV is a recognized risk factor for cataracts, pterygium and surface damage to the eye, and intense exposure can cause short-term photokeratitis. Protecting your eyes with UV-blocking sunglasses and a wide-brim hat reduces this long-term risk.
What should I look for in UV-protective sunglasses?
Choose lenses labeled UV400 or '100% protection against UVA and UVB' — this matters far more than how dark the tint is. Larger or wraparound frames block stray UV that sneaks around the edges, and pairing sunglasses with a hat gives the best overall eye protection.
Do darker lenses protect against UV better?
No — tint darkness and UV protection are separate. A dark lens without UV blocking can actually be worse, because it relaxes the pupil to open wider and lets more UV reach the eye. Always confirm the lenses are rated UV400 or 100% UVA/UVB regardless of how dark they appear.
r/optometry: 'Do cheap sunglasses actually block UV, or do I need to pay for UV400 lenses?'