Whether you pick them up at a discount retailer or from a small designer boutique, sunglasses are definitely one of the  must-have accessories regardless of the season. However, far from being just a fashion accessory, sunglasses are multipurpose tools that can protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and provide a degree of shade on a sunny day, improving visibility and lessening your chance of being temporarily blinded by sunlight (very important when driving).

Of course as wonderful as sunglasses are, they are not always of the same quality and it is very important to take care when shopping for a pair. The first thing to make sure is that the sunglasses provide protection from ultra violet rays both UVA and UVB which are generated by the sun even on a cloudy day. While some experts disagree about the negative effects

UVA rays may have on the eye. It is well documented that UVB rays can be responsible for a number of eye conditions including permanent retinal damage, so always make sure your sunglasses offer complete protection.

These days sunglasses come in many styles and shapes. But if fashion is the main consideration, then pick a stylish frame and then have the lenses added which many opticians will do now.

If protection from the sun is your main concern then pick a pair of wraparound sunglasses that will block out more light than ordinary sunglasses.

Once you’ve found a style that you like. Think about the type of lenses you want. You could have different colour lenses. With cheap plastic sunglasses the colour may be more of a fashion choice, with proper lenses the colour can tell you more about the purpose of the sunglasses. Knowing more about this will help you make the right choice in your sunglasses.

PHOTOCHROMIC, lenses change colour with the amount of UV light that they are exposed to, though for the most part they appear shaded when you are outside, and clear when you
are inside. Photochromic lenses create the illusion of sunglasses with you regular glasses.

AMBER lenses tend to block out blue light. There is a lot of discussion about whether blue light is harmful to the eye, but outdoor people agree blur-blocking lenses are brilliant when skiing or fishing.

MIRROR- coated sunglasses limit the light that reaches you eye, which makes it easier to see in bright light situations.

GRADIENT-lenses, are as the name implies are tinted to different opacities from the top to the bottom. These sunglasses a wonderful for driving or viewing controls.

POLARIZED and anti-reflection sunglasses reduce the amount of reflected light that reaches your eyes, which is really what you need on the ski slope or on very sunny wintry days.

Virtually every style of sunglasses, frames and lenses, can be made to accommodate any prescription that you have, even if you have poor vision you can benefit from wearing sunglasses.