UV Protection

Bigatmo UV Protection

All Bigatmo sunglasses filter out 100% harmful UVA and UVB rays. Our frames are wrapped at a 23˚ angle that prevents UV radiation from getting behind the lenses and into your eyes.

What is UV radiation?

There are three types of UV radiation: UVA, UVB and UVC. UVA rays are the deeply penetrating, low energy rays that cause ageing and cannot be absorbed by the ozone layer. UVB rays are the more powerful rays that burn; as the ozone layer is reduced, more and more UVB radiation is reaching the earth’s surface. UVC rays are the most damaging rays of all, but they are completely absorbed by the ozone layer and do not reach the earth’s surface.

What are the effects of UV radiation?

We are all aware of the harmful effects of the sun on our skin, but UV radiation is just as damaging to our eyes. Exposure can lead to eye disorders such as pterygium (benign growths on the eye surface) macular degeneration (damage to the central vision area) and cateracts (responsible for one half of 35 million cases of blindness worldwide). It is also associated with dry eye syndrome, keratitis and conjunctivitis.

Who’s at risk from UV radiation?

Everyone is at risk from UV radiation: even on cloudy days, ultraviolet radiation you cannot see or feel penetrates the earth’s atmosphere. Light coloured eyes (blue, green or grey) need even more protection than dark coloured eyes. That’s why the World Health Organisation recommends wearing a good pair of sunglasses in all conditions.

Protection from UV rays is even more important for sports enthusiasts, pilots and those who spend time outdoors in high risk environments such as snow and water. A grassy or watery surface reflects up to 10% of the sun’s rays, but a snow covered surface can reflect at least 80%. The intensity of UV rays also increases with altitude, because the reduction in absorption factors is inversely proportional. It is estimated that the intensity of the sun’s rays increases by between 6% and 8% every 1,000 meters, and at very high altitudes reaches 12% every 1,000 meters.

Help to protect your future vision with Bigatmo sunglasses that offer 100% protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays, and remember:

• UV radiation passes through clouds
• UV radiation increases when reflected by snow, water and sand
• UV radiation increases the higher you climb
• UV radiation intensity varies with the height of the sun above the horizon