diff --git a/happly.h b/happly.h
index 84c780f..ca76d87 100644
--- a/happly.h
+++ b/happly.h
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
 SOFTWARE.
 */
 
+#include <algorithm>
 #include <array>
 #include <cctype>
 #include <fstream>
@@ -1206,6 +1207,44 @@ class PLYData {
     return result;
   }
 
+  /**
+   * @brief Common-case helper get mesh vertex UVs
+   *
+   * @param vertexElementName The element name to use (default: "vertex")
+   *
+   * @return A vector of vertex UVs.
+   */
+  std::vector<std::array<double, 2>> getVertexUV(const std::string& vertexElementName = "vertex") {
+    bool hasUV = false;
+    for (std::unique_ptr<Property>& prop : getElement(vertexElementName).properties) {
+      if (prop->name == "u") {
+        hasUV = true;
+      }
+    }
+
+    if(!hasUV) {
+        return std::vector<std::array<double, 2>>();
+    }
+
+    std::vector<double> uPos = getElement(vertexElementName).getProperty<double>("u");
+    std::vector<double> vPos = getElement(vertexElementName).getProperty<double>("v");
+    bool allzeros = std::all_of(uPos.begin(), uPos.end(), [](double i) { return i==0.0f; });
+    allzeros = allzeros || std::all_of(vPos.begin(), vPos.end(), [](double i) { return i==0.0f; });
+
+    if(allzeros) {
+        return std::vector<std::array<double, 2>>();
+    }
+
+    // else, we have valid UVs
+    std::vector<std::array<double, 2>> result(uPos.size());
+    for (size_t i = 0; i < result.size(); i++) {
+      result[i][0] = uPos[i];
+      result[i][1] = vPos[i];
+    }
+
+    return result;
+  }
+
   /**
    * @brief Common-case helper get mesh vertex colors
    *