| Sunglasses 101 | | | | between 11:00am and 4:00pm when the sun’s rays |
| Protect your eyes and look great with a fabulous pair | | | | are the strongest. |
| of sunglasses! | | | | Choosing the right pair for you |
| Sunglasses are one of the easiest ways to protect | | | | Always try sunglasses on before you buy. Make sure |
| your eyes from sun damage. Whether you are a | | | | the lenses are dark enough to keep out the bright light, |
| trendy fashionista with an eye on the trends, or a | | | | just make sure that your vision isn’t reduced. If you |
| bargain hunter, there is definitely a pair of sunglasses | | | | are going to be outdoors for long periods of time in |
| out there for you. As long as your sunglasses have | | | | intense glare from sunlight reflecting off water or |
| certified U.V protection, your eyes will be protected. | | | | snow, try wearing sunglasses that specifically block |
| While most of us love to bask in the sun’s rays, the | | | | blue light. Sunglasses with medium to dark lenses and |
| light can actually harm you. Three types of light will | | | | gray, brown, or green tinted lenses will filter out blue |
| cause injury to your eyes if you are not properly | | | | light the best. |
| protected. They are: ultraviolet radiation (often called | | | | Most sunglasses have plastic lenses; these are |
| UV rays), bright or intense light, and blue light. UV rays | | | | tougher than glass and less likely to shatter. Make sure |
| carry more energy than visible light, so your eyes are | | | | your plastic lenses have a scratch-resistant coating. |
| at risk when they absorb UV radiation. Two types of | | | | When you are trying them on, try looking around at |
| UV rays actually reach the Earth’s surface: UVB | | | | different objects, this will help you determine the |
| rays and UVB rays. These are the rays that can | | | | amount of distortion the lenses have. |
| cause several different eye diseases and UVB rays | | | | Different lenses |
| are linked to skin cancer. Any damage that happens to | | | | • Regular lenses reduce brightness |
| the eyes via UVB and UVA rays happens over long | | | | • Poloarized lenses eliminate the glare that you get |
| periods of time and can’t be reversed, so make | | | | from reflection. These are great for driving and any |
| sure you wear a good pair of sunglasses when you | | | | outdoor activities that involve being around water or |
| are outdoors. | | | | snow. |
| Sunglasses can greatly minimize your risk of eye | | | | • Photochromatic lenses change with the amount |
| damage. A great pair of sunglasses can protect your | | | | of UV light they are exposed to by turning darker |
| eyes against UV rays, bright light, and blue light. | | | | when outdoors. |
| Sunglasses also act as a safety device; when you are | | | | • Flash or mirror lenses will reflect all or part of the |
| driving, they can help reduce glare and improve your | | | | light rays instead of absorbing it. The downfall: they |
| visibility on the road. Be sure to wear sunglasses | | | | scratch easily. |
| whenever you are out in bright sunlight, especially | | | | |