Whether you wear glasses, contact lenses or have perfect vision, sunglasses are one of the best ways to protect your eyes from harmful sun rays, whilst also protecting them from other problems, such as irritation from pollen and dry eyes.

Sujata Paul, Professional Services Clinical Lead and Contact Lens Optician FBDO/CL at Lenstore reveals her top tips for picking the right sunglasses just as temperatures are really starting to heat up:

1. Look for UV Protection
“A good pair of sunglasses should offer 100% protection against both UVA and UVB rays from the sun. Depending on the level of exposure, these rays can lead to you experiencing sensitivity to light, blurred vision, cataracts and even permanent blindness.

“Look for sunglasses that have a tag or sticker that offers 100% UV protection. These stickers can usually be found on the lens and will normally have a ‘CE’ or ‘UV400′ mark.”

2. Don’t be fooled by the colour of your shades
“From grey to brown, sunglasses’ lenses can come in a variety of different colours to suit your preference.

“When choosing the perfect pair, it’s important to know that darker lenses don’t always equal better UV protection. Always make sure to check the sticker to be certain they will offer the defence needed.”

3. Size matters
“The more coverage you can get from your sunglasses, the less damage the sun rays can do to your eyes. When looking for a new pair, consider the size of the lens and opt for buying wrap-around or oversized glasses to limit the UV rays from entering the sides and damaging your vision as a result.

“Wrap-around sunglasses can also protect your eyes against other things including pollen and dust, which are commonly found in the air during the summer months especially. For contact lens wearers where these particles can get trapped underneath your contact lenses especially, resulting in irritation and inflammation, sunglasses are a great way to help protect your eyes further.”

4. Polarized lenses don’t block UV rays
“Polarized sunglasses are designed to help reduce the glare the sunlight causes when it bounces off reflective surfaces such as water or roads.

“Although helpful when boating or driving, polarized sunglasses do not provide UV protection, so it’s important to check the label of polarized sunglasses to make sure they are protecting your vision properly.”

Sunglasses aren’t just for fashion
“Sunglasses are a staple fashion accessory that are worn to enhance your daily outfits and looks. However, it’s important to keep in mind what they can do for our health.”

Sujata Paul, Professional Services Clinical Lead and Contact Lens Optician FBDO/CL at Lenstore also comments:

“Whilst we’re often looking to buy sunglasses as a key summer fashion accessory, it’s important to remember their purpose and importance in protecting our eyes from the sun. When selecting the right pair, we need to think about more than just their shape or the brand, but how they can be useful to us when it comes to reducing the risk of serious long term consequences for our eye health, including cataracts and even vision loss.

“Keeping these factors in mind when purchasing sunglasses will significantly reduce your chance of developing long term issues with your sight. Wear your sunglasses this summer and protect your eye health for years to come.”