Lens Technology & Testing
Every Wavy Label lens is polarized and UV400. Our polycarbonate lenses are injection-molded polarized, and our premium lens is polarized glass. Lenses were tested to ANSI Z80.3, EN ISO 12312-1 and AS/NZS 1067.1 in factory optical lab tests (2020–2021), including drop-ball impact testing. Here's what that means and what was measured.
Injection-molded vs. laminated polarized lenses
A polarized lens cuts glare with a thin polarizing film. There are two common ways to build that film into a lens:
- Laminated: the film is bonded onto or between layers of lens material.
- Injection-molded: the film goes into the mold and the polycarbonate is injected around it, so the film sits inside the lens instead of being laminated on.
Our $70 amber and smoke polycarbonate lenses, on both The Spawn and The Papi, are injection-molded polarized. When we set up production in 2019, the factory offered a cheaper laminated lens. We chose injection-molded. Our $120 amber lens is polarized glass.
UV and optical test results
From factory optical lab test reports (May 2021) on two lenses from The Spawn.
| Test | Amber glass, blue mirror | Smoke polycarbonate, silver mirror |
|---|---|---|
| UVB transmission (280–315 nm) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| UVA transmission (315–400 nm) | 0.00% | 0.00% |
| UV400 | Pass | Pass |
| Visible light transmission (VLT) | 9.8% | 12.9% |
| Lens category | 3 | 3 |
| ANSI Z80.3 (US) | Pass | Pass |
| EN ISO 12312-1 (EU) | Pass | Pass |
| AS/NZS 1067.1 (Australia/NZ) | Pass | Pass |
| Traffic signal recognition | Pass | Pass |
We haven't lab-measured the VLT of our amber polycarbonate lens, so we don't publish a number for it.
Impact testing (drop ball)
Lenses were drop-ball tested to ANSI Z80.3: a 5/8-inch (16 mm) steel ball dropped from 50 inches (1.27 m) onto the lens, both on its own and mounted in the frame.
| Lens (The Spawn) | Pairs tested | Failures |
|---|---|---|
| Polarized polycarbonate | 9,642 | 0 |
| Polarized glass | 185 | 0 |
Tested January 2020. These are sunglasses, not safety glasses: ANSI Z80.3 is the sunglass standard, and it isn't a safety-eyewear rating.
What the standards mean
- ANSI Z80.3: the US standard for non-prescription sunglasses, covering UV and light transmission, optical quality, traffic-signal recognition and impact resistance.
- EN ISO 12312-1: the international standard for general-use sunglasses, used in Europe, including the filter categories 0 to 4.
- AS/NZS 1067.1: the Australian and New Zealand standard for sunglasses and fashion spectacles.
- UV400: blocks light up to 400 nm, which covers all UVA and UVB. Our tested lenses measured 0.00% transmission from 280 to 400 nm.
What Category 3 means
Category 3 is the standard sunglass darkness for bright sun: the lens lets through about 8–18% of visible light. It's the right range for sun on the water and fine for daytime driving. Category 3 lenses aren't for driving at twilight or night, and they're too dark for a dim ice house. Flip them up.
Where they're made
Wavy Label sunglasses are made in an FDA-registered sunglass factory. The Spawn's frame is TR90 nylon with rubber-lined temples. The Papi's frame is cellulose propionate (CP).
Warranty
Lifetime warranty: with proof of purchase, pay a flat $30 replacement fee and we'll send you a new pair. How to make a claim →
Shop the lenses
- The Spawn: our freshwater frame. Amber polycarbonate $70, smoke polycarbonate $70, amber glass $120.
- The Papi: our saltwater and inshore frame, with the same three lens options and prices.
- Not sure which color? Read best lens color for fishing: amber vs. smoke by water type.
Source: factory optical lab test reports, 2020–2021. Results as of September 2026. Questions? support@wavylabel.com