With summer fast approaching, now's the time when a lot of us are going out and purchasing a new pair of sunglasses for those bright, sunny days.

If you're like most, you obviously want something that looks good, but you also want sunglasses that you know will protect against dangerous UV rays.

So, are cheap sunglasses the way to go, or do you need to spend a bunch of money on fancy, designer glasses? Style over safety, or safety over style?

Eye experts say the first thing you want to look for in a pair of sunglasses is UV protection. The sun's rays can cause serious damage to your eyes.
Your eyes are similar to your skin. Over time, too much exposure to dangerous UV rays will start to do irreparable damage.

And if you think you can't get a sunburn on your eyes, think again. Experts say sunburned eyes can be some of the most painful sunburn you can experience.

And then there's the topic of skin cancer, which you can get on your eyelids. In rare cases, you can also get cancer of the eyeball itself from extreme UV damage.

Think of it this way - sunglasses are to your eyes what sunscreen is to your skin. But which sunglasses protect the best? Does more money mean more protection?

According to recent studies, as long as the tag says the lens protect from UV rays 100%, cost shouldn't be an issue. Expensive sunglasses don't offer any more protection.

If anything, you may notice a bit more 'warping' around the outside of the lens on the cheaper glasses which could result in headaches, but other than that, they both do the job.

So rather than spending hundreds of dollars on expensive shades, it's okay to buy the cheaper ones instead. With the money you'll save - you can buy a pair in every color.

Source: ABC Radio News


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