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How to Test Sunglasses in a Shop: 8 Checks Before You Pay

How to Test Sunglasses in a Shop: 8 Checks Before You Pay

Buying Guide

How to Test Sunglasses in a Shop: 8 Checks Before You Pay

Most people choose sunglasses by looking in the mirror for ten seconds. Five minutes of simple checks tells you far more: whether the lenses protect, whether the optics are clean and whether the pair will last.

🕔 6 min read✅ 5-minute checklist📖 Buying guide

In this article

  1. How do you check sunglasses before buying?
  2. What are the 8 checks?
  3. What results mean you should not buy the pair?
  4. How do you check sunglasses bought online?
  5. Which checks matter most for your use?
  6. Rawbare frames to run these checks on
  7. Frequently asked questions

How do you check sunglasses before buying?

Check eight things: the UV claim, lens distortion, polarization, symmetry, hinges, fit, grip and lens finish. All eight take under five minutes and need nothing more than your phone and a straight edge.

You cannot judge UV protection by darkness or price. A study of 35 retail sunglasses found that about 1 in 9 failed the UV transmittance limit, with no link to price. The checks below catch most problems before you pay.

In one sentence
Look past the style. Test the lenses, the frame and the fit before you pay.

What are the 8 checks?

Do them in this order. The first three test the lenses, the next two test the frame and the last three test the fit and finish.

1
Check the UV claim
Look for UV400 or 100% UV protection on the label or temple. Ask the shop to test the lenses on a UV meter; most optical shops have one.
2
Do the straight-line test
Hold the pair at arm's length and look through one lens at a straight edge, such as a door frame. Move the pair slowly. The line should stay straight, not wave or bend.
3
Test polarization if claimed
Look at a phone screen and tilt your head 90 degrees. A polarized lens makes the screen go dark at some angle.
4
Check symmetry
Put the pair upside down on a flat counter with the temples open. Both temple tips should touch the surface.
5
Work the hinges
Open and close each temple several times. Movement should be smooth with no wobble, grinding or loose screws.
6
Check the fit on your face
The frame should sit near your brow line, not rest on your cheeks, and your lashes should not touch the lenses.
7
Do the shake test
Look down at your feet and shake your head gently. The pair should stay in place without pinching.
8
Inspect lenses and edges
Check for scratches, bubbles, coating marks, rough edges and gaps between the lens and the frame.

What results mean you should not buy the pair?

Walk away from any pair that bends straight lines, has no credible UV claim, sits crooked or has loose hinges.

You notice What it means
Straight lines bend or ripple Poor optics; can cause eye strain
No UV claim or failed UV meter No proof of protection
Screen does not dim when tilted Not polarized, if it claims to be
One temple lifts off the counter Bent or twisted frame
Hinges wobble or grind Will loosen or break early
Frame rests on cheeks Wrong bridge fit for your nose
Dark is not the same as protective
A very dark lens with no UV filter makes your pupils open wider and lets more UV in. Always check the UV claim. Read how to spot real UV protection.

How do you check sunglasses bought online?

Run the same eight checks the day the parcel arrives, before you remove any tags or stickers, so a return is still possible.

Compare the measurements printed inside the temple with the product page, and check the fit against a pair you already wear. Read buying sunglasses online in India and how to read the numbers on your sunglasses.

Which checks matter most for your use?

Drivers and riders should prioritise the polarization and distortion tests. Sport users should prioritise the shake test. Everyone should do the UV check.

Rawbare frames to run these checks on

UV400 lenses with measurements listed on every product page. Check them at the Rawbare Experience Store in Andheri or when your order arrives.

Rawbare Kolkata Chrome Viper Fern square sunglasses
Kolkata Chrome: Viper Fern
Square • UV400
View Frame
Rawbare Vizag Prism Sunlit Jade polarized hexagon sunglasses
Vizag Prism: Sunlit Jade
Hexagon • Polarized • UV400
View Frame
Rawbare Nova Shades All Black square sunglasses
Nova Shades: All Black
Square • UV400
View Frame

Frequently asked questions

Q1 How can I check if sunglasses are good quality?
Check the UV claim, look through the lens at a straight edge for distortion, test polarization on a phone screen, check the frame sits level on a flat surface, and make sure the hinges move smoothly.
Q2 How do I test sunglasses for UV protection?
Ask an optical shop to test them on a UV meter. Most have one. You cannot judge UV protection by how dark the lens looks.
Q3 How do I check if sunglasses are polarized?
Look at a phone or laptop screen through the lens and tilt your head 90 degrees. If the screen goes dark at some angle, the lens is polarized.
Q4 What is the straight-line test for sunglasses?
Hold the pair at arm's length and look at a straight edge through one lens while moving it slowly. If the line bends or ripples, the lens has optical distortion.
Q5 How should sunglasses fit when I try them on?
The frame should sit near your brow line, not touch your cheeks, keep your lashes off the lenses and stay in place when you look down and shake your head gently.
Q6 Should I check sunglasses bought online?
Yes. Run the same checks the day they arrive, before removing tags, so you can still return them if something is wrong.

Key takeaways

✓ Darkness and price do not prove UV protection
✓ Ask for a UV meter test
✓ Straight lines must stay straight
✓ Tilt a phone screen to test polarization
✓ Both temples should touch a flat surface
✓ Hinges should move smoothly
✓ Do a shake test for grip
✓ Check online orders the day they arrive

Sources

  1. Serizawa D, Heacock H. UV transmittance in market place sunglasses and their adherence to established standards. BCIT Environmental Public Health Journal, 2014
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