UV400 Sunglasses
UV400 sunglasses block all UVA and UVB radiation with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, the UV light from the sun that reaches the ground. Every Corlin frame in acetate has UV400 lenses, from slim ovals to oversized aviators.
What does UV400 mean?
UV400 means a lens blocks ultraviolet light with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. That covers both UVB (280–315 nm) and UVA (315–400 nm), the two types of UV radiation from the sun that reach the ground.
UV400 is a measure of protection, not of darkness. A light lens can be UV400, while a dark lens without a UV filter can still let UV light through.
UV400 sunglasses from Corlin
Every frame below has UV400 lenses. They are made from acetate, except Luc, which is stainless steel.
Frames with UV400 lenses
All sunglasses-
Louis Black BlackSlim oval1 299 SEK
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Selma Tortoise BrownSoft round oval1 499 SEK
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Ana Brown BrownSlim oval, cat-eye lift1 499 SEK
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Carpi Tortoise Brown1960s oval1 299 SEK
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Todd Black BlackRound1 299 SEK
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Jean Tortoise BrownSlim rectangle1 499 SEK
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Gelo Black BlackOversized aviator1 299 SEK
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Luc Gold BrownStainless steel1 499 SEK
What is the difference between UVA and UVB?
Sunlight carries two types of UV radiation that reach your eyes. UV400 lenses block both:
Does lens color affect UV protection?
No. Lens color changes how the world looks, not how much UV gets through. On our acetate frames, every lens color below has the same UV400 protection:
| Lens | How it changes the view | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Black | Colors close to natural, darkest overall | Louis Black Black |
| Brown | A warmer picture with a little more contrast | Selma Tortoise Brown |
| Green | Natural colors with a slightly cooler tone | Todd Tortoise Green |
| Blue | A cooler, more colored view | Gelo Black Blue |
| Cinnamon | Warm, with a hint of red | Carpi Tortoise Cinnamon |
| Gradient | Dark at the top, lighter at the bottom | Todd Champagne Gradual Brown |
See all tinted sunglasses for more lens colors.
Are darker sunglasses better for your eyes?
Not on their own. Darker lenses cut more visible light, which makes bright days more comfortable, but how dark a lens is says nothing about its UV protection.
A dark lens without a UV filter can even be worse than wearing no sunglasses. Your pupils widen behind the dark lens, so more UV light can reach the inside of the eye.
That is why the UV400 rating matters more than the darkness. Choose the darkness for comfort, and check the UV rating for your eyes.
UV400 vs polarized sunglasses: what is the difference?
UV400 and polarization solve two different problems. UV400 is about protection: it blocks the UV radiation you cannot see. Polarization is about comfort: it cuts the glare that bounces off water, snow and wet roads.
A polarized lens is not automatically UV400, and a UV400 lens is not automatically polarized. If you want both, check that a pair lists both.
How can you tell if sunglasses have UV protection?
You cannot see UV protection by looking at a lens. The reliable way is to check the label, the product description or the marking on the frame for UV400 or 100% UV protection.
An optician can also test a lens with a UV meter. If a pair has no information about UV protection at all, assume it does not protect your eyes.
At Corlin, every sunglass in acetate has UV400 lenses, and so does Luc in stainless steel. For our other metal frames, the UV rating is not yet listed on the product page, so get in touch if you want to know about a specific pair.
Questions about UV400 sunglasses
Is UV400 the same as 100 percent UV protection?
Yes, in practice. UV400 means the lens blocks UV light up to 400 nanometers, which covers all the UVA and UVB radiation from the sun that reaches the ground. That is why sunglasses are often labeled with both UV400 and 100 percent UV protection.
Do all Corlin sunglasses have UV400?
Yes, every Corlin sunglass in acetate has UV400 lenses, and so does Luc in stainless steel. For our other metal frames, the UV rating is not yet listed on the product page, so get in touch if you want to know about a specific pair.
Do darker sunglasses give better UV protection?
No. The darkness of a lens decides how much visible light it lets through, not how much UV. A light lens with UV400 protects your eyes better than a dark lens without a UV filter.
Do you need UV protection on cloudy days?
Yes. A large share of UV radiation passes through clouds, so your eyes are exposed even when the sun is not out. UV400 sunglasses are worth wearing on bright, overcast days too.
Do you need UV protection for your eyes in winter?
Yes. Snow reflects much of the UV radiation that hits it, so a sunny winter day in the mountains can mean more UV than a summer day. Sunglasses or goggles with UV400 protect against both direct and reflected UV.
Are UV400 sunglasses polarized?
Not necessarily. UV400 describes protection against UV radiation, while polarization reduces glare from water, snow and wet roads. A lens can have one feature without the other.
Is UV400 enough for strong sun at the beach?
It depends on the lens, not on UV400. UV400 tells you the UV protection, while the darkness of the lens decides how comfortable you are in strong sun. For the beach or the mountains, choose a dark lens, for example in our black sunglasses.
Can I return sunglasses from Corlin?
Yes. Shipping is free, and you have 30 days to return sunglasses from Corlin, so you can order two pairs and compare them at home.