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Aug 16, 2007 9:01 pm US/Eastern
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Sunglasses Are More Than A Fashion Statement
Many people think of sunglasses as a fashion statement, but they also protect your eyes and the skin around them.
But experts saying getting the right pair can be confusing.
"Right now the federal government does not regulate the protective value of a sunglass," Pamela Lowe, a member of the American Optometric Association, said.
It's up to consumers to know what to look for.
Lowe says good eye protection doesn't have to cost a lot but it does have to cover the eye from "A" to "B."
"If you have a lens that you're looking at and it says that it protects 100 percent UVA and UVB that usually means it's going to be a nicer lens or a lens that's going to be great at protecting the eyes," she said.
The AOA says you can protect yourself by taking several steps:
Wear sunglasses that screen out at least 75 to 90 percent of visible light.
Wear glasses even on cloudy days.
Choose gray-tinted lenses when possible because they reduce light and intensity and give you the most natural vision.
Check that the lenses have no distortions."Look at it about an arm's length away through the lenses at a straight line like the edge of a door, and they can just move the lenses and if they see that straight line curve then you know the lenses may be warped and have distortions," Lowe said.
It's important to wear sunglasses all year round, but the intensity of ultra-violet rays triples in the summer. And experts say it's especially harmful to children.
The AOA also suggests wearing wrap-around shades when possible – especially if you're out playing a summer sport. They cover more and cut down on more of the rays that can reach the eyes.