How to choose the category of your sunglasses?

Sunglasses… an essential accessory for many of us. Everyone loves feeling the warmth of the sun on their face, but no one enjoys squinting because of glare. Sight is one of our five most important senses, so it would be a shame to damage it!

In everyday life, we hear a lot about sun protection levels and UV rays. Today, we’re going to explain everything simply to help you choose the right category of sunglasses. You’ll see, it’s not that complicated!

Protection categories

In the optics market, you can find different protection levels referred to as categories. But what does that actually mean?

The sun protection level represents the lens’s ability to absorb natural sunlight. The darker the lens, the more solar glare is reduced.

There are several categories of sunglasses:

• Clear category: 0% glare reduction.
• Category 0: Average glare reduction of 12% (light transmission of 88%).
• Category 1: Average glare reduction of 20% (light transmission of 80%).
• Category 2: Average glare reduction of 60% (light transmission of 40%).
• Category 3: Average glare reduction of 85% (light transmission of 15%).
• Category 4: Average glare reduction of 90% (light transmission of 10%).
  
  

Legally, all categories of sunglasses are allowed for sale, but from category 0 onward, manufacturers must provide 100% protection against UVA and UVB rays. They are also required to indicate the category and level of protection inside the temples.

Be careful not to confuse the level of protection with the tint category of the lenses.

Which sunglasses category for which use?

We want to take care of you, dear Binocle fans, so we’ve decided to guide you through how to use each category!

Clear category glasses

This type of lens is not used for sunglasses but for optical glasses. They do not reduce glare at all and transmit 100% of light.

More and more stores are selling non-prescription optical frames. They are often purchased to create a style.

This is also the case for blue light glasses, which protect against blue light but do not reduce glare.

Category 0 sunglasses

These allow 88% of sunlight through and reduce glare by an average of 12%. They are lightly tinted and provide aesthetic comfort to the wearer.

They are ideal when the weather is cloudy and the sun is not present. As soon as a few rays appear, they are not recommended.

Even though glare reduction is minimal with this type of lens, protection against UVA and UVB is still guaranteed at 100%.

Category 1 sunglasses

With these pairs, the lenses are darker and reduce glare between 20% and 59%. Light dazzles your eyes less, improving overall comfort.

We recommend these sunglasses in winter or when the weather is grey. They are not suitable for very sunny days.

They provide 100% protection against UVA and UVB. As a reminder, the tint level does not represent the level of protection, but rather the degree of light transmission through your lenses.

Category 2 sunglasses

Following the same logic, category 2 lenses transmit 40% of light, meaning glare is reduced by 60%. They are often used for moderate sunlight.

Yellow lenses in category 1 or 2 are perfect for night driving. These categories enhance contrast vision by allowing more light to pass through.

If I say “Carglass repairs, Carglass replaces!”, does that ring a bell? Of course! Many automotive service companies recommend and sometimes provide this type of eyewear. Coincidence? I don’t think so!

At Binocle, we offer some category 2 sunglasses with a unique design that gives a very vintage look: the Indiana and the Nevada! Yep, we’ve thought about your eyes and your style! Pretty nice, right?

Category 3 sunglasses

This type of sunglasses is the most common on the optics market. Why? Because these lenses offer 100% protection against UVA and UVB (like the others) while greatly reducing glare from 80% to 89%.

They perfectly protect your eyes and provide ultimate comfort in all sunny conditions! Stylish, right?

These will be your best friends during your vacations at the beach or in the snow.

At Binocle, the majority of our models fall into category 3. You can choose from various shapes and colors. To each their own Binocle! It’s even possible to customize all the colors of your sunglasses. #JoinTheClub

Category 4 sunglasses

Yes, this type of sunglasses does exist! But what makes them different from category 3? Well, they have an even higher tint level, reducing glare by about 90%.

But why use them?

They are only used in cases of extreme sunlight. For example, mountaineers climbing very high in the mountains use them because snow reflection is extremely powerful and can damage the eyes.

Be careful: this type of sunglasses is not allowed for driving because it greatly reduces vision and color perception, especially for traffic lights.