Sunglasses For Healthy Eyes: Protect Eyes From The Sun's Rays

Unsplash/Philipe Cavalcante

The sun is officially out and here to stay, which means we’re culling the racks for a cute new pair of sunglasses that protects our eyes and is kind to our wallets. Now, is that even possible? Finding a legit pair of frames that keep those mean UV rays away from our precious retinas and wears a reasonable price tag?

Lucky for you, the answer is yes. In fact, the cost of sunglasses is a poor reflection on how well they’ll guard your eyes. A pair of cheapies from the drugstore can serve you just as well as those fancy sport $300 Oakleys. The main detail you want to focus on is the UV protection label on those frames.

If you can’t find the label or look up the details online, put those sunglasses back on the rack immediately. And if you do find it and the label has any number other than 100 on it, those shades are a no-go as well. The most important feature of sunglasses is that they block 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. So if you’re in it for eye health as much as your personal aesthetic, don’t compromise on this detail.

Unsplash/Veeterzy

Plenty of people prefer polarized lenses, which are often on the pricier side since they utilize additional glare-blocking technology. While they make driving and playing sports a hell of a lot easier, polarization is not responsible for blocking UV rays and, therefore, really isn’t necessary. It’s more a matter of personal preference and budget flexibility.

Oversized shades have certainly had their time in the sun, and if ophthalmologists had it their way, they’d never go out of style. Larger surface area means increased eye protection from all directions, so if you’re into the big glasses look, lean into your style and stock up. The sporty wrap-around frames are also particularly helpful in keeping those UV rays away from your eyes.

And finally, let’s chat about the color of those lenses for a minute. Similar to polarization, the tint you pick does little in the way of UV protection, so go with the color you think suits you best and find it in a pair that blocks 100 percent of all UV light, according to that handy label we mentioned earlier.

Sun’s out, shades on, folks. Those summer days are calling your name.

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