Sunglasses are crucial when you’re embarking on a day in the sunshine. They  make it easier to see and provide comfort to your vision as you explore everything the day has to offer. But sunglasses have even more to offer than relief from harsh sunlight. 

Listed below are 10 sunglass benefits you can take advantage of simply by wearing shades, from sun protection to the prevention of some eye diseases. Sunglasses can: 

Perhaps the most important benefit of wearing sunglasses is protection from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation. When you’re exposed to UV radiation on a long-term basis, it raises your risk of developing certain eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, cataracts, and cancer of the eyelid. Wearing proper sun protection helps reduce that risk.  

So, what is “proper sun protection”? To help ensure your eyes’ safety from the sun, look for sunglass lenses with 100% UVA-UVB lens protection or a UV 400 label. Dark lenses may provide shade, but they don’t always guarantee adequate sun protection.  

Snow and ice are highly reflective surfaces. If you’re a skier or winter sports enthusiast, or you just live in a snowy environment, wearing sunglasses can help protect your eyes from the harsh glare given off by these reflections.  

Such bright conditions can also increase your risk of developing snow blindness, a form of photokeratitis (or sunburned eyes). Using UVA-UVB lens protection is the best way to reduce this risk. Try a pair of wraparound frames for fuller coverage on your next snow day. 

Presbyopia is the natural age-related loss of near focusing ability. It usually starts to develop around age 40 and can affect a person’s ability to see up-close text and objects clearly. If you don’t have any other vision needs, presbyopia can often be corrected with a pair of reading glasses — or reading sunglasses when you’re in the sun!  

Whether you’re spending a day at the park with a book or reading a menu on a sunny patio, consider wearing Foster Grant SunReaders while you’re out. With 100% UVA-UVB lens protection, our tinted reading glasses enhance your near vision, reduce the sun’s brightness, and help protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. 

Intense natural light can be irritating, even if you don’t regularly suffer from light sensitivity (also called photophobia). You may feel discomfort or find it difficult to open your eyes all the way in bright spaces. Many people also experience headaches when exposed to bright lights. 

One way to alleviate these symptoms is by wearing tinted sunglasses with 100% UVA-UVB lens protection. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, they also tone down the brightness that may cause you distress. 

No matter where you are in the world or what time of year it is, it’s possible to encounter pollen, wind, dust, debris, and various allergens in the great outdoors. Wearing sunglasses while you’re outside can benefit your eyes by adding a layer of protection between your eyes and the airborne particles that can cause irritation or uncomfortable dryness. 

Have you ever experienced an annoying glare when you were driving? Wet roads, bodies of water, passing car windshields, and bright sunny skies can serve as dangerous distractions when you’re behind the wheel. 

Reflections — and the resulting glare — from flat surfaces like buildings, signs, highways, and cars can make it difficult to safely navigate across any distance. Fortunately, you can wear polarized sunglasses to help alleviate the glare.  

Polarized sunglasses are often recommended for driving because they are specifically designed to reduce glare. 

Cycling, hiking, baseball, and other outdoor activities demand extreme visual focus, and you’ll likely perform better if your vision feels protected, comfortable, and clear.  

Sport sunglasses lenses provide increased contrast and clarity with their vibrant lens tints. Their frames are designed to fit comfortably as you run, jump, and glide across the playing field.  

Overall, they can help protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UVA-UVB rays, all while fitting securely on your head. Plus, they complement team uniforms nicely, which is another benefit. 

When you step out into the sun without wearing sunglasses, you may feel a brief shock from the intense light. It’s natural to react by squinting your eyes. But if this becomes a regular occurrence, squinting may begin to cause wrinkles in your forehead and the space between your eyebrows. It can also deepen ridges in your crow’s feet, which are the wrinkles at the outer corners of your eyes. 

Sun damage in general can also lead to wrinkles, including those around your eyes.  

One of the benefits of wearing sunglasses is that they provide UVA-UVB sun protection and reduce your need to squint, which may help prevent some new wrinkles. Just remember that wrinkles are a natural part of the aging process, so wearing sunglasses won’t eliminate or prevent them completely. 

Of the many uses of sunglasses, something that shouldn’t go unnoticed is their use in recovery after eye procedures. Such procedures can be as minor as a dilated eye exam or as major as an eye surgery. 

During a comprehensive eye exam, your eye doctor may dilate your pupils to get a better look at the structures inside your eyes. Dilated pupils are extremely sensitive to light, so it’s important to wear sunglasses when you leave the doctor’s office to protect your eyes from the outside light. You may even need the extra shade outside your exam room.  

Sunglasses are also recommended for recovery after LASIK eye surgery and other surgical procedures. Both safety glasses and sunglasses with 100% UVA-UVB lens protection are helpful during this time because the eyes need extra protection as they heal. 

Last but not least, sunglasses are a great way to express your personal style. From classic silhouettes to expressive cat-eye frames, our sunglasses for men, women, and children are sure to provide you with the right statement for your wardrobe. 

1. Everything you need to know about sunglasses. All About Vision. March 2021.* 
2. Sunglasses protect the eyes from UV rays even in winter. All About Vision. January 2020.* 
3. Presbyopia: What causes it and how to treat it. All About Vision. February 2019.*  
4. Photophobia (light sensitivity). All About Vision. March 2019.* 
5. Why should you wear sunglasses year-round? All About Vision. March 2020.* 
6. What are the best sunglasses for driving? All About Vision. January 2019.* 
7. Are polarized sunglasses right for you? All About Vision. February 2019.* 
8. Eyeglasses that enhance sports performance. All About Vision. February 2019.* 
9. Crow’s feet: Causes, treatment and prevention. All About Vision. April 2021.* 
10. What is a dilated eye exam and when do you need one? All About Vision. August 2022.* 
11. A timeline for LASIK surgery recovery. All About Vision. August 2020.* 
12. Protecting your eyes from the sun’s UV light. National Eye Institute, National Institutes of Health (NEI/NIH). July 2022.  

The sources listed here have been provided for informational purposes only. The citation of a particular source does not constitute an endorsement or approval of EssilorLuxottica products, services, or opinions by such source.  

*Like Foster Grant, All About Vision and AAV Media, LLC are affiliates of EssilorLuxottica.