Just like sunscreen protects your skin, sunglasses protect your eyes. A good pair doesn’t just make you look stylish — it shields you from harmful UV rays. But how do you choose the right pair? Should you go for polarized or regular sunglasses? And what’s the real importance of a UV filter?

What is UV radiation?

Before deciding which sunglasses suit you best, it’s worth knowing exactly what they protect you from. UV, or ultraviolet radiation, is energy from the sun that sits just outside the range of human vision. Its wavelength is shorter than visible light, making it invisible — but also more energetic, which can damage your eyes and skin.

There are three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

  • UVA
    This makes up most of the UV we’re exposed to. UVA rays are present all day, every day, and cause tanning (and skin damage). Tanning beds can expose you to over six times the UVA you’d get on a sunny day in southern France. Long-term exposure increases your risk of wrinkles, skin spots, cataracts, and other eye diseases.
  • UVB
    Less common but more intense, UVB is strongest in the early afternoon. It damages the outer layers of your skin, your cornea, and other eye structures. Protecting against UVB is essential.
  • UVC
    Thankfully, UVC rays are blocked by the ozone layer and don’t reach Earth.

The sun still shines behind the clouds

Even without direct sunlight, UV rays are still present. Their intensity depends on the sun’s height, cloud thickness, and reflections from surfaces like water or snow. This means sunglasses are important year-round — even on overcast days.

Always choose sunglasses with a UV filter

When shopping for sunglasses, a genuine UV filter is a must. This filter blocks harmful UV rays, something cheaper sunglasses with only tinted lenses cannot do. Tint reduces brightness but does not prevent UV damage.

Tint colors (green, brown, gray, etc.) are a matter of personal comfort — the color doesn’t affect UV protection.

Polarized sunglasses

Polarized lenses have a special filter that blocks horizontal light reflections, also known as glare. This is useful when driving (light reflecting off asphalt), sailing (sunlight bouncing off water), or skiing (bright snow reflections).

By filtering glare, polarized lenses make vision more comfortable and less fatiguing. The main drawback is that they can make it harder to read digital screens like GPS devices or smartphones.

The takeaway

For everyday use, regular sunglasses with a UV filter are usually enough. But if you spend a lot of time skiing, sailing, or in other glare-heavy environments, polarized sunglasses can be a game-changer.