Are cheap sunglasses really bad for your eyes?

Not necessarily all cheap sunglasses, but those without a good UV filter. Without UV protection, harmful rays can reach your eyes, which poses long-term risks to your vision.

How do I know if sunglasses have UV protection?

Pay attention to the designation UV400 or 100% UV protection. This is often found on the arm of the glasses or on a sticker on the lens. This means that UVA and UVB radiation are blocked.

Is a dark pair of sunglasses automatically safe?

No. The color of the lenses says nothing about the protection. A dark pair of sunglasses without UV filter can even be dangerous because your pupils dilate and let in more radiation.

Where is the best place to buy a safe pair of sunglasses?

At an optician, the Bijenkorf or other well-known stores. There, sunglasses meet European safety standards and you can be sure that the UV protection is correct.

Is an expensive designer sunglasses worth it?

Not always necessary, but often a safe choice. You are not only paying for the brand, but often also for quality, protection, and durability. In the end, you often wear it for several seasons.

Fashion

Here you have a good excuse to actually buy that expensive pair of sunglasses

By Laudonne Roos | #!30Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200+02:002730#30Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam202630 30pm30pm-30Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200+02:004Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam2026302026Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200334336pmTuesday=9#!30Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam6#06-30-2026#!30Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200+02:002730#/30Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200+02:00-4Europe/Amsterdam3030Europe/Amsterdam202630#!30Tue, 30 Jun 2026 16:33:27 +0200+02:00Europe/Amsterdam6#

Let's be honest: a pair of sunglasses for €12.99 that suspiciously resembles that Céline model for €420? We all get a little greedy about that. Because how much money do you really want to spend on something you're probably going to leave on the terrace just once this summer? Exactly. Every summer I fall for it again: I scroll for hours on budget websites like Shein to find the perfect dupe and my wallet is happier. But yes: how safe is such a pair of sunglasses that you buy for less than a Starbucks coffee? Spoiler alert: not at all.

Why a cheap pair of sunglasses can actually be dangerous

You would think that dark sunglasses protect your eyes, but unfortunately that's not the case. The real deal is not in the color of the lenses, but in the UV filter. This special layer is the secret that protects your eyes from all the sun's radiation. Here's how it works: when you put on dark lenses, your eyes think that your surroundings (logically) have become darker. Your pupils think it's suddenly four o'clock in the morning, so what do they do? They get bigger. This allows more light to enter. But that's precisely what's dangerous. When you have a good pair of sunglasses, the UV filter ensures that, although your pupils are taking in more light, they remain protected. Think of it as sunscreen that you apply.

However, a cheap pair of sunglasses often doesn't have such a smart built-in filter. The end result is simple: your pupils get bigger and absorb more harmful UV radiation unprotected. And that can have quite serious consequences. In the short term, you can get an acute inflammation of your cornea or ‘regular’ irritation. That's already very annoying, but the danger lies in the long-term consequences. For example, too much sunlight can lead to cataracts. Your eye lenses become cloudy, causing your vision to become blurry and you actually start to see worse. You can also permanently damage your retina, causing you to lose sight in the center. That must be annoying: only being able to see in your left and right corners. Right? Exactly. You could even – hold on – get eyelid cancer. Yes. So you might as well skip those cheap AliExpress glasses, trust us.

What should you pay attention to?

The most important point to look for is that your sunglasses have UV400 or one hundred percent UV protection. This can be on the arm of the glasses or on a sticker that is on the lens. This means that your lenses can block UVA and UVB radiation.

@dr_emb
how to know if your sunglasses are giving you full UV sun protection ☀️#sunglasses #sunprotection #tips #skincare
♬ original sound – Dr Eman

Where do you buy those glasses? Not online on some shady website, but just in a physical store. This way you can try on the glasses and check in real life if the right protection is there. If you don't feel like checking, you can be sure you're buying a good pair if you get it from an optician or large chains like Bijenkorf.

Secretly, this is the perfect excuse you were looking for

Now you can of course look for the cheapest glasses with protection at the optician, but you can also look at it differently: this is the push you needed to actually buy that expensive pair of sunglasses. Because if you have to buy a good pair that protects your eyes anyway, why not go for one that you actually love to wear? A model that you won't just shove in the drawer after one summer, but one that you take out of the closet every season. One that never goes out of style and gives your ‘I'm just going grocery shopping’ outfit an extra chic boost.

And when you calculate it, it all adds up quite nicely. If you have to buy a new pair of sunglasses every season because it's no longer fun, you might as well get an expensive one. That pair for €300 will definitely last you three to four summers. Maybe even longer. If you look at it from this angle, you're suddenly not paying that high price anymore, but a few euros a day. It's just an investment piece. You wouldn't buy a designer bag to wear a few times, would you? Exactly. You'll enjoy this pair for years.

In short: this is officially your sign to go for the smartest choice, not the quickest one. And if that smartest choice happens to look the best too? Then the decision is actually already made for you. Just buy it. You have our permission.