Choosing the Right Aviation Sunglasses

There is a certain image that comes to mind when you think of a pilot: the confident stance, the flying jacket and, of course, the sunglasses. But for anyone who flies, sunglasses are far more than a style choice. They are a piece of safety equipment, and choosing the wrong pair can genuinely put you and your passengers at risk.

Why Sunglasses Matter More at Altitude

Sunlight reaching the earth's surface contains harmful solar radiation, including ultraviolet (UV) and infrared light. Prolonged exposure can cause serious and permanent damage to the eyes, including conditions such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Pilots face a much higher level of exposure than most people. At altitude, there is less atmosphere to filter radiation, and the cockpit environment often means direct, unrestricted views of the sun for extended periods.

The consequences of eye damage stretch beyond your personal health. Any deterioration in your vision will directly affect your ability to hold a medical certificate. Without a valid medical, you cannot exercise the privileges of any UK pilot licence, whether that is an LAPL, a PPL or anything above. The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) requires LAPL holders to hold at least an LAPL Medical, PPL holders a Class 2 Medical, and professional pilots a Class 1 Medical. Protecting your eyesight is therefore protecting your flying career or hobby before it even begins.

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What to Look For When Choosing Aviation Sunglasses

Walk into any aviation shop or browse any flying magazine and you will find dozens of options, many of them claiming to be the ideal choice for pilots. The following points will help you cut through the marketing and make a sensible decision.

• UV protection. This is non-negotiable. Look for lenses that block 100% of UVA and UVB radiation. Any pair sold in the UK must meet BS EN ISO 12312-1, but confirm the UV protection rating specifically rather than assuming compliance guarantees full UV blockage.
• Lens tint. The most commonly recommended tints for aviation are grey, grey-green and brown. Grey is a neutral tint that has minimal effect on colour perception, which matters when reading instruments and identifying navigation lights. Grey-green and brown tints can improve contrast and make ground features appear more distinct, which some pilots find helpful during cross-country flying. Avoid fashion tints in blue or yellow for general use, as these can distort colour perception in ways that are unhelpful and potentially hazardous in the cockpit.
• Polarised lenses. These are widely sold for aviation use and many pilots do use them without obvious difficulty. However, polarised lenses can make it harder to read LCD cockpit displays and can cause problems when looking through certain laminated windscreens, which can appear to show strange patterns or reduced visibility. The CAA and most aviation medical guidance recommend treating polarised lenses with caution for flying. If you already own a pair, test them carefully in your specific aircraft before relying on them.
• Lens material. Polycarbonate lenses are lightweight, impact-resistant and scratch-resistant, making them a practical choice for most pilots. Glass lenses offer excellent optical clarity but are heavier and will shatter on impact. Whatever material you choose, make sure the lenses are optically correct with no distortion, as distorted lenses can cause eye strain and fatigue on longer flights.
• Frame design. The frame must be compatible with your headset. Many popular aviation headsets have relatively large ear cups, and frames with thick or wide arms can create a poor seal, reducing noise attenuation and causing discomfort over time. Lightweight frames with slim arms tend to work best. The fit should be secure enough that the glasses stay in place during turbulence or brisk head movements, without being so tight that they cause pressure or headaches.
• Prescription lenses. If you wear prescription glasses, speak to your optician about aviation-specific prescription sunglasses. Many pilots fly comfortably with prescription lenses, but the same tint and material considerations apply. Your CAA medical examination will assess your visual acuity, so keep your optician informed that you fly.

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How Much Should You Spend?

Prices range from around £30 for basic pairs up to £200 or more for specialist aviation brands. A higher price does not automatically mean better protection or optical quality, though reputable aviation-specific brands do tend to offer better frame compatibility with headsets and more rigorous quality control on lens accuracy. A mid-range pair from a recognised brand, costing roughly £60 to £120, will serve most student and private pilots well. Avoid the temptation to buy the cheapest option available; poorly made lenses with substandard UV coatings offer little meaningful protection regardless of how dark the tint appears.

Try Before You Buy

The best advice is to try glasses on before purchasing, ideally at an aviation show or specialist retailer where staff understand the particular demands of flying. Take your headset with you if possible. What works well on the ground in a shop may feel very different after an hour in the circuit. Talk to other pilots at your flying club, as personal experience from people flying the same type of aircraft in similar conditions is often more useful than any advertisement.

The Next Step

Now that you have read through the advice above, you might want to put it into practice. Our Pilot Training Cost Calculator lets you work out what learning to fly really costs: get a realistic UK estimate for your licence, broken down into flight hours, instruction, exams, medical and test fees, so there are no surprises. Try it now →