The effect of sunglasses on ocular exposure to ultraviolet radiation.

Publisher: American Public Health Association Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 1254074 Publication Model: Print Cited Medium: Print ISSN: 0090-0036 (Print) Linking ISSN: 00900036 NLM ISO Abbreviation: Am J Public Health Subsets: MEDLINE

Publication: Washington, DC : American Public Health Association
Original Publication: New York [etc.]

Sunlight* ; Ultraviolet Rays*; Eye Protective Devices/*standards ; Eyeglasses/*standards ; Protective Devices/*standards; Eye/radiation effects ; Humans ; Manikins

Thirty-two pairs of inexpensive sunglasses were examined for their effectiveness in preventing ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from reaching the eyes. The transmission of UVB (290-310 nm) by all of the sunglass lenses was less than 2 per cent. However, in measurements performed with mannikins wearing the sunglasses, up to 14.1 per cent of the incident UVR passed through to the eyes. When the sunglasses were moved 6 mm from the forehead, the per cent reaching the eyes ranged from 3.7 to 44.8 per cent. Although sunglasses are somewhat more effective than untinted prescription eyewear in attenuating ocular exposure, the amount of attenuation is highly variable and depends mainly on their size, shape, and wearing position.

Am J Public Health. 1986 Oct;76(10):1216-20. (PMID: 3752323)
Photochem Photobiol. 1985 Aug;42(2):163-71. (PMID: 4048298)

EY04547 United States EY NEI NIH HHS

Date Created: 19880101 Date Completed: 19880129 Latest Revision: 20190514

20221208

PMC1349214

10.2105/ajph.78.1.72

3337309