The EN166/170 standard specifies safety eyewear should provide UV protection up to 380 nm, and most industrial safety eyewear only complies with the industry standard. The World Health Organisation (WHO) and latest scientific studies state, however, that this level of protection is insufficient and recommend safety eyewear lenses provide UV protection up to 400 nm covering 100% of UVB and UVA rays.
"The reasons why the WHO recommends UV400 protection are clear. The outer tissues of the eye, cornea and lens fully absorb UV light. While UVB light primarily damages the genetic material, UVA rays penetrate deeper, cause thermal damage and magnify the effects of UVB light."
Univ.-Prof. Dr. rer. nat. Olaf Strauß
Protecting your eyes with uvex
The uvex brand has always been synonymous with optimum protection against UV radiation. For many years now, we have been providing advanced eyewear technology, such as UV400, as standard and all uvex safety glasses offer 100% UVA, UVB and UVC protection.
The name UVEX stands for UltraViolet EXcluded
uvex UV400
filters all UVA rays (at 380 nm, 20% of damaging UVA still passes through the lenses).
uvex UV400
minimises the thermal impact on cells (10 times greater in the 380-400 nm range) which can damage and alter cell structure.
uvex UV400
reduces aggressive blue light content (HEV: high-energy visible light), which is harmful to the retina, by 15%.
uvex UV400
protects the eyes and surrounding skin from dangerous long-term damage.
Even when there is no sunshine, UV rays are ever-present
When working outdoors, your eyes are regularly exposed to harmful UV radiation — even when it is cloudy. The result: using insufficient protection may cause dangerous long-term damage such as corneal injury, cataracts and loss of sight.
Even on cloudy days
UV and blue light are always present even on cloudy days due to reflections or scattered radiation in the shade, for example.
Indoors
Workplaces where artificial UV lamps are used, such as when performing tests under UV lamps.
Highly reflective surfaces
Water, snow and the surfaces of machine housings reflect a significant amount of UV radiation.
UV radiation: Invisible risk to sight
Most people are aware of the effects of ultraviolet radiation on the skin; 95% associate UV radiation with skin problems and 85% are aware of the risk of tumours1.However, when it comes to radiation exposure to the eyes, the figures are very different; with only 7% associating UV radiation with eye disease1 despite the fact that the eye is the organ most susceptible to sun damage.
1 Transitions UK. Transitions European Study. 2008.
uvex UV400:
filters all UVA rays (at 380 nm, 20% of damaging UVA still passes through the lenses)
minimises the thermal impact on cells (10 times greater in the 380-400nm range) which can damage and alter the cell structure
reduces aggressive blue light content (HEV), which is harmful to the retina, by 15%
protects the eyes and surrounding skin from dangerous long-term damage.
uvex UV400 — included in all uvex safety eyewear
Regardless of whether you choose a clear or tinted lens, all uvex safety eyewear has UV absorption incorporated in the lens which filters 100% of UV rays up to 400nm. uvex which stands for ultraviolet exclusion, prides itself on delivering the best possible protection together with top-quality lens coatings, incredible comfort and stylish designs.
