The FUBI system for solar rating nonprescription eyewear

In an effort to develop a comprehensive method of rating nonprescription eyewear for its ability to protect the eye against solar damage, the FUBI (Fashion, Ultraviolet, Blue, and Infrared) System is presented. The system presents a numeric value, from Oto 100, for each of the three known harmful portions of the solar spectrum: ultraviolet UV), blue/violet (B), and infrared (IR). A fourth value was determined for the fashion (F) of the eyewear as it relates to protection of the eye against reflected or scattered radiation that is not transmitted through the eyewear.

The numeric value of the system for UV, B, and IR was derived by taking the average transmittance of radiation through each tested lens and weighting it by multiplying that value by a relative toxicity factor (RTF) for each waveband of solar radiation tested. The RTF was derived by multiplying the approximate level of radiation reaching a specified anatomic part of the eye at sea level for each wavelength tested (Elambda) by the inverse of the value of its action spectrum (sensitivity, Slambda) on that part of the eye. This weighted average transmitted percentage of radiation was then deducted from 100 to derive the FUBI value for the UV, B, and IR range. The numeric value for F was derived by measuring the scattered or reflected light from five known sources of luminance at a fixed distance around opacified lenses on each tested frame.

The FUBI values for six known commercial products of nonprescription eyewear are presented for comparison.

The FUBI system presents a comprehensive, scientifically valid means of rating nonprescription eyewear for solar protective value. The system will provide consumers of nonprescription eyewear with more useful, comparative information about the protective qualities of eyewear against solar radiation.