Summer is a great time to get some cool sunglasses and relax on the beach, but we should really be wearing our sunglasses all year.

Choosing the right pair of sunglasses is a little more complicated than finding the ones that best suit your style. Our first priority should always be finding the pair that offers the right protection for our eyes.
 

Do The Sunglasses Offer UV Protection?

UV protection is absolutely the most important feature of any pair of sunglasses. When you’re looking for a pair, check the labels to make sure they block at least 99 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Also consider getting sunglasses with large lenses that offer more coverage and protection for your eyes.
 

Go Polarized For Glare Elimination

A lot of the time, it isn’t just the direct light from the sun but the glare off reflective objects that causes us the most trouble when we’re outside. Car windshields and the surface of water and snow are particularly big culprits. Luckily, modern sunglasses have that covered with polarized lenses.

Polarized lenses filter out light waves coming in at certain angles, which gets rid of the glare. They’re an especially good option for fishermen, because no glare means you can see what’s under the surface of the water!
 

Tailor Your Lens Color To Your Outdoor Activities

Depending on what your favorite outdoor activities are, you may actually benefit from different lens colors in your sunglasses. Yellow or orange lenses filter out blue light, which will sharpen your focus for cycling, shooting, handball, racquetball, tennis, and even winter sports like skiing and snowboarding.

Amber or rose-tinted sunglasses increase contrast on a bright day, so they help for water sports. Dark amber, copper, or brown lenses block a lot of blue light and help increase contrast and visual acuity, which is helpful for things like baseball, fishing and golf. And no matter what you like doing outside, an anti-reflective coating will help reduce a lot of glare.
 

Keep Your Eyes Safe And Look Great Doing It!

Now that you know more about what kinds of lenses to look for, you can find the perfect pair of sunglasses that protect your eyes while making you look great. Stop by our practice for more tips or specific recommendations, and take a look at our selection of sunglasses!
 

We can’t wait to see you rocking those shades!

Top image used under CC0 Public Domain license. Image cropped and modified from original.

The content on this blog is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of qualified health providers with questions you may have regarding medical conditions.