Why Genuine UV400 Protection Isn't Optional (And Why Folds Never Compromise On It)
Not all sunglasses are created equal, and the difference can genuinely affect your eye health. If you've ever bought a cheap pair of "sunglasses" from a market stall or a bargain bin, there's a good chance they were doing you more harm than good. Here's why UV400 protection matters, and why every pair of Folds is built around it.
The Hidden Danger of Dark Lenses Without UV Protection
It seems obvious: dark lenses block light, so they must be protecting your eyes. Unfortunately, that's not how it works.
When you put on a pair of sunglasses, your eyes sense the drop in visible light and respond naturally. Your pupils dilate, opening wider to let more light in so you can still see clearly. This is a completely automatic reflex.
The problem is that pupil dilation doesn't distinguish between visible light and harmful UV radiation. If your lenses are tinted but don't actually filter UV rays, you've created the worst possible scenario: your pupils have opened wider, letting in more UV light than they would without sunglasses at all, while your brain assumes you're protected because it's darker.
This is why genuine UV400 protection matters so much more than a dark tint alone. UV400 means the lens blocks light wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, covering the full range of UVA and UVB rays, the ones linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, and long-term damage to the cornea and retina.
Why "UV Protection" Claims Can't Always Be Trusted
Because tint and UV filtering are separate things, plenty of low-cost sunglasses are sold with vague or misleading UV claims, or no real testing behind them at all. A label that says "UV protection" isn't the same as a lens genuinely rated UV400. Without that specific rating, you have no real guarantee your eyes are protected, regardless of how dark or stylish the lenses look.
How Folds Approach UV Protection
Every pair of Folds is fitted with genuine polarised UV400 lenses. That means full protection against UVA and UVB rays, tested and rated to the UV400 standard, not just a tinted lens sold under a vague protection claim.
Polarisation adds a second layer of benefit on top of UV filtering. It cuts glare from flat, reflective surfaces like roads, water, and pavements, which is particularly useful for driving, being near water, or simply spending a bright day outdoors. Combined with genuine UV400 filtering, you get clearer, more comfortable vision as well as protection you can actually rely on.
Built to a Standard, Not Just a Look
UV protection is only part of the picture. The frame and finish matter too, because sunglasses that fall apart, warp, or need constant fiddling with are sunglasses people stop wearing, which defeats the purpose entirely.
Folds are built with a TR90 aircraft-grade polymer frame, chosen because it's genuinely unbreakable rather than just marketed that way. A spring hinge gives an adjustable, comfortable fit rather than a rigid one-size-fits-all squeeze. And because Folds are designed to fold completely flat, at under 19 grams and smaller than a phone, they're built to actually travel with you rather than sit in a drawer at home.
Each pair comes with a vegan leather pouch, a drawstring bag, a microfibre cloth, and a micro screwdriver keychain tool, so the lenses and hinges stay in good condition for the long run, not just for the first few wears.
The Bottom Line
Sunglasses without genuine UV protection can leave your eyes more exposed than going without sunglasses at all. A proper UV400 rating isn't a nice-to-have, it's the entire point of wearing sunglasses in the first place.
Folds are built around that principle from the ground up: real UV400 polarised lenses, a genuinely durable frame, and a finish designed to last, so you can wear them with confidence, not just style.
