| Sunglasses are great in more ways than one. | | | | industry is UV400 - across the board - which |
| They can compliment your appearance while | | | | protects the eyes from 98 per cent of the sun's |
| preventing you to have to squint while outside on | | | | ultraviolet rays. And statistics based on testing |
| a sunny day. But sunglasses are not simply a | | | | results from inexpensive sunglasses as compared |
| fashion accessory to be taken lightly. They are | | | | to the more expensive brands show that even |
| actually of major importance for protecting our | | | | sunglasses in the $5 and below range, provide the |
| eyes from the sun's UV rays which can lead to | | | | same amount of protection as the more costly |
| diseases of the eye when exposed to them over | | | | varieties. So, the good news is, you don't have to |
| time. | | | | pay more for the best level of protection. And |
| The ultraviolet radiation element in sunlight is | | | | for those who wear prescription sunglasses, |
| divided in two basic areas - UVA and UVB. | | | | something else you might be interested in |
| Sunglasses block both of these types of rays. | | | | knowing is that the UV level is the same for both |
| What exactly is UVA and UVB you ask? Well, | | | | those and the store bought versions. |
| UVA represents the ultraviolet radiation that | | | | And for even further comfort and assurance, you |
| passes through the Earth's ozone layer, reaches | | | | might be happy to know that sunglass |
| our skin and can lead to premature aging. UVB | | | | manufacturers have to follow certain FDA |
| are also ultraviolet rays, but are absorbed, in | | | | regulations. They have to comply with impact |
| great amount, by the ozone layer. Still, they are | | | | requirements - not saying that sunglasses must |
| very harmful and can contribute to the cause of | | | | be completely shatterproof, but that they will at |
| skin cancer and cataracts. | | | | best, withstand a moderate impact. Sunglass |
| The lenses of a pair of sunglasses should be dark | | | | manufacturers also have to follow labeling |
| enough to reduce the glare of bright light, but not | | | | regulations. No doubt if you've ever bought a pair |
| so dark that they distort colors in objects, and | | | | of sunglasses in your lifetime, you've had to peal |
| obviously not so dark that they inhibit your vision. | | | | that removable sticker off the front of one of |
| The point is that as long as the lenses are | | | | the lenses either before you put them on or |
| properly tinted, your eyes will be protected. You | | | | afterward when you realize that something's |
| don't have to go 'crazy' looking for lenses that are | | | | obstructing your view. |
| so dark that they not only block out the sun's UV | | | | They say you get what you pay for. Well, if you |
| rays, but block out the actual sun itself. | | | | pay for a pair of sunglasses, you're paying for |
| The standard UV protectant level in the sunglass | | | | good eye health. |