It’s the height of summer, which means fun in the sun. But before you put on your sunglasses, apply some sunblock, and set out to catch some rays, manufacturers and researchers were working hard to keep you safe from the sun’s harmful rays. To ensure their products protect consumers from harmful UV rays, manufacturers have to navigate through global standards, environmental regulations, and rigorous testing using a variety of scientific instrumentation.

Sunglasses aren’t just meant to be a summer fashion statement. The lenses in sunglasses offer protection for our eyes from UVA and UVB rays, reducing and preventing instances of eye cancer, cataracts, and sunburned eyes. Modern lenses often have this protection embedded in the lens rather than coated over it. Manufacturers test for transmittance properties, optical powers, scattered light, and more using spectrophotometers. If you’re unsure of the amount of coverage with your pair, you can always take your shades to an optical store to be tested on a photometer by an optician, usually free of charge.

Manufacturers and R&D departments need to ensure their products meet very exact standards and specifications. Optronic Laboratories’ extremely versatile OL 750 Spectroradiometric Workstation is capable of a variety of highly accurate measurements in the ultraviolet, visible, and infrared wavelength ranges. The modular approach of the OL 750, via an extensive selection of accessories and powerful application software packages, enables users to tailor a turn-key solution to their specific needs, as well as ensure expandability for future requirements.