Sunglasses with Style – and UV Protection

All trends aside, the most important aspect is choosing sunglasses with 100% ultraviolet (UV) protection that blocks up to 400 nanometers, this is maximum protection and that’s what you want. There may be a sticker on the lens or frame, but not always so you may have to ask the salesperson.

And you don’t have to spend as much as Jessica or Brad to get the same look. There isn’t a direct relationship between price and protection. You can get a $10 pair of sunglasses with 100% UV protection or a $1,000 pair of D&G Sunglasses.

Another buzzword in the sunglass community is polarized. But don’t be fooled or talked out of your hard-earned money. Polarized doesn’t mean it blocks UV rays. It just cuts down on glare, which is important from a comfort standpoint only.

Sunglass lenses will come in all colors this year, from brown, amber, and copper to green, gray, rose, and blue. Choose whichever looks best, as there is no relationship between color and UV protection. In fact, dark lenses with no UV protection are worse for the eye than light lenses with UV protection because the dark color allows pupils to dilate and be more susceptible to UV damage. UV protection is actually just a special coating put on lenses regardless of whether they are pink, blue, or green.

However, for the millions of Americans who have undergone laser eye surgery, lighter lenses are the way to go. Choose amber, green, brown, blue, or yellow because your pupils won’t dilate and your vision will be better as a result. Consider the gold-rimmed aviator-style sunglasses with green lenses, which experts predict will have a second coming this summer.

Many designer sunglasses come as wraparounds meaning that they don’t just stop at the temple. Instead, they curve around toward the ear with either a wide frame or a lens. This blocks reflected UV light and gives additional protection for your eyes.

Plus it gives you more room for design. Sides of frames are embellished with crystals this year such as chanel sunglasses, so that your glasses can become a conversation piece. says Rene Soltis, a Whitehall, Penn.-based optician and spokesperson for the Vision Council of America