Have you thought about which sunglasses you like the most and the ones that suit you best? Do rounded or square frames look better on you? And the lenses? Do you like the typical dark lenses, or do you prefer those that are of an unusual color? If you are thinking of buying sunglasses, surely you will have taken all these aspects into account and you will be looking for ones that you like and that flatter you. But if you are looking for glasses, it is also important that you keep in mind that sunglasses are not just an aesthetic accessory… 
The main functionality of the glasses is that they must protect, as well as possible, the eyes from the effects of harmful UVA and UVB rays. For this reason, and leaving aesthetic reasons aside, we should get used to always wearing sunglasses and especially during the summer, which is the time of year when the sun is most exposed.
Health effects of the sun’s rays
- During the summer, excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, reflected from sand, water, or soil, could damage the tissues of the eye’s surface. This overexposure can also bring other consequences, such as, for example, it can cause cataracts and accelerate AMD (age-related macular degeneration) that could require laser eye surgery. Or other type of operation. Prolonged exposure to the sun can lead to lesions and tumors that may be unsightly and may even require surgical removal. To give an example, the appearance of tiny yellow bumps in the eye (pingueculas), are usually associated with prolonged exposure to sunlight and these changes begin in the white part of the eye and can affect your vision.
- Let’s remember that the possible damage to the eyes from UV light is not limited only to those moments in which we are outdoors and you must have special attention with UV tanning beds. Tanning lamps can produce levels that produce up to 100 times more radiation than you get from the sun, which could cause very serious damage to the external and internal structures of your eyes and eyelids. This could lead to corneal burns, cataracts and, in rare cases, even retinal damage. Therefore, it is especially important that you get used to wearing sunglasses and especially (but not only) during the summer. It is also very important that you use specially designed glasses to protect your eyes if you are in a tanning booth.
- For these reasons and when looking for sunglasses, do not worry only about their aesthetics and look first at the quality of the lenses and the level of protection they will offer you. Fortunately, the quality of the lenses is not incompatible with fashion and today you will have many options to buy sunglasses that, in addition to looking good with them, offer you the maximum possible protection for your eyes.