If you pick the right ones.
Rather than seeking style points, think about how shades can protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays.
100 percent UV protection is essential to providing eyes with the protection they need. Sunglasses without that level of protection can actually be a serious health risk.
The sun can damage eyes year round, too. It’s not just a hazard during summer. Wearing sunglasses with less than 100 percent UV protection can boost the risk growths on the eye, cataracts, and more, all putting vision at risk.
Finding a pair of these glasses is easy and doesn’t have to be expensive. All you have to do is look for a 100 percent UV protection label, brand name or not.
The labels you wat to look for are 100% UV-A and UV-B protection, or UV400 protection. If you’re not sure, an optical store will likely offer a photometer test.
Sunglass shape may also make a difference. Larger lenses may offer more protection, while wraparounds – think baseball, cycling, or beach volleyball – offer the best protection.
Wraparounds do the best job at limiting UV exposure through the sides, while they can also shield wind that contributes to dry eye, as well as irritants like sand, grit, or dust.
It’s also important to remember that darker lenses or polarized lenses don’t make a difference. Polarized just means that the lenses will limit glare coming from reflective surfaces. Further, any lens color, light or dark, will offer the same protection as long as they block 100 percent of UV rays.
Rememer that shades are for more than just summer and style, they can offer serious protection for your eyes. Choose them wisely!