How to Tell If Your Sunglasses Are Actually Protecting Your Eyes
You're wearing sunglasses — but are they actually protecting your eyes? With so many products on the market making vague claims about UV protection, it's worth knowing how to verify that your sunnies are doing their job. Here's how to check.
Understanding Australian Standards Markings
In Australia, sunglasses should comply with AS/NZS 1067.1:2016, the joint Australian and New Zealand standard for eye and face protection. Look for these markings on your sunglasses or their packaging:
- Lens category — Rated 0 to 4, indicating the amount of light transmitted. Category 3 (transmitting 8-18% of light) is the most common for general outdoor use in Australia.
- UV400 or 100% UV protection — This means the lenses block all ultraviolet radiation up to 400 nanometres.
- EPF (Eye Protection Factor) — Similar to SPF for sunscreen. An EPF of 10 means only 1/10th of UV reaches your eyes.
If your sunglasses don't have any of these markings, that's a red flag.
The UV Torch Test
For a more hands-on approach, you can test UV blocking with a UV (blacklight) torch — available cheaply online or at hardware stores:
- Shine the UV torch through the lens onto a UV-reactive surface (white paper or a fluorescent marker line works well).
- If the lens blocks UV, the fluorescence should be dramatically reduced or eliminated.
- If the UV passes straight through, the surface will glow just as brightly — meaning your lenses aren't blocking UV.
This isn't laboratory-grade testing, but it gives a quick indication of whether your lenses have any UV filtering at all.
Checking Polarisation
If your sunglasses claim to be polarised, verify with this simple test:
- Hold your sunglasses in front of an LCD screen (phone or computer).
- Look through one lens while slowly rotating the sunglasses 90 degrees.
- Truly polarised lenses will cause the screen to darken dramatically at one angle.
- Non-polarised lenses will show no change at any angle.
Signs Your Lenses May Have Degraded
UV coatings don't last forever, especially on cheaper sunglasses. Signs that your lenses may no longer be providing full protection:
- Colour fading — If the tint has lightened noticeably since purchase.
- Peeling or bubbling — Visible coating damage on the lens surface.
- Persistent eye strain — If you find yourself squinting despite wearing sunglasses.
- Age — Cheap sunglasses may lose UV effectiveness after just 1-2 years of regular use.
Why Brand Reputation Matters
The easiest way to ensure your sunglasses provide genuine protection is to buy from reputable brands that clearly state their UV specifications, comply with Australian standards, and back their products with warranties.
Every pair of ShadyMate Voyager sunglasses comes with UV400 polarised lenses that meet Australian standards — and a lifetime warranty that reflects our confidence in the product's lasting quality.
When in Doubt, Replace
If you can't verify your current sunglasses' UV protection, it's worth upgrading. Your eyes don't give you second chances — UV damage is cumulative and irreversible. Investing in verified protection is one of the smartest health decisions you can make.
