It’s no secret that UV radiation can have serious negative health effects on our bodies. That’s why we take so many precautionary measures to protect ourselves from sunlight. We lather up with high SPF sunscreen, stay in the shade when possible, and wear hats to protect our heads from harmful rays. While many are aware of the importance of wearing UV protection on their skin, did you know UV protection for eye health is important too?

Whether you’re on a beach vacation, playing in the backyard with your friends and family, or gardening, spending time in the sun is a great way to relax. Luckily, finding sunglasses with 100% UVA-UVB protection can turn a good time into a great time. Plus, with so many stylish options to choose from, there’s a pair for everyone!

In short, UV protection in the best sunglasses helps protect our eyes from the sun’s rays. Not all sunglasses protect against every kind of UV, but most pairs protect against UVA and UVB rays. What does this mean for our eyes?

The sun contains a variety of rays and different kinds of light that we encounter each day. Even the blue light* that we encounter in our screens is given off in smaller quantities in the sun’s rays. Thanks to the coverage of Earth’s atmosphere and the ozone layer, not every ray from the sun reaches Earth.

As for UV rays, there are two main types that reach us: UVA and UVB. If you’ve heard the recommendation to put sunscreen on to prevent wrinkles, the signs of aging, and hyperpigmentation, this is because of UVA rays. These harmful UV rays are also responsible for eye damage and contribute slightly to the formation of skin cancer. The atmosphere works to decrease our level of UV exposure, but not all.

The other type of UV light that reaches the earth from the sun is known as UVB light. However, the atmosphere is much more effective at preventing most UVB light from reaching Earth.

Depending on the time of year, the position of our planet, and where you are located, the atmosphere may be filtering different amounts of UVB radiation. UVB rays are the UV rays responsible for sunburns and for a larger portion of skin cancer than UVA rays.

UVA and UVB rays from the sun can have negative effects on our eyes and our vision when not properly protected. Even short-term effects can occur. For instance, our eyes can experience a similar type of sunburn that our skin can, causing pain, irritation, sensitivity to light or water, and redness.

Sunburn on the eyes does go away, but there are permanent effects as well. Some long-term effects of UV exposure on our eyes include an increased risk in some eye-related damages, such as cataracts and eye cancer, as well as the wear and tear on eyes that UV exposure can lead to.

This is where sunglasses come in handy! Depending on what sunglasses and the lens type you choose, they are the best protection for your eyes from a percentage of this UV radiation and help keep your eyes happy and healthy.

Besides protecting your cornea and retinas, wearing the correct garment for sun protection is also critical. Long-sleeved shirts and pants with a tighter weave are good examples of protective clothing. Additionally, some fabric choices have SPF protection in their very fibers.

UV protection isn’t limited to outdoor activities and UV rays either. Here are some of the ways UV protection can help keep your eyes safe indoors too! Some artificial sources of UV light include lasers, tanning beds, or welding tools and machinery. If you frequently encounter these sources of UV, it’s a good idea to find glasses you can wear to protect your eyes while indoors too.

Sunglasses are an excellent way to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays and UV light. Here at Foster Grant, we know not every pair of sunglasses are made equal.

So, if you’re wondering what kinds of sunglasses are best, here are a few things to look for:

When it comes to protecting your eyes from UV, you want the highest protection out there. Some brands offer 99% UV-A and UV-B protection in their sunglasses, and even others have a lower sun protection factor.

At Foster Grant, we offer 100% UVA and UVB protection in all our sunglasses. We know how important it is to stay protected from the sun’s rays, but this doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the outdoor activities you love.

Whether it’s fishing, gardening, watching outdoor sports, or just relaxing in your backyard hammock, our sunglasses come with 100% UV-A and UV-B protection so you can focus on other things without worrying about taking care of your eyes.

While UV protection in sunglasses is important, it’s also vital to keep your sunglasses safe from scratching and breaking. Finding scratch-resistant sunglasses lenses is a great way to prevent damage to your lenses during all your favorite outdoor activities and normal wear and tear. Interested in sunglasses with impact resistance? Try a pair of polycarbonate lenses.

This will also help your lenses last longer, stay clear, and keep performing their job by protecting your eyes from the sun's damaging wavelengths.

All Foster Grant sunglasses styles offer 100% UVA-UVB protection and scratch resistant lenses. However, there are a few characteristics you may want to consider when choosing which pair of sunglasses is right for you.

Our SunReaders® reading glasses come with a built-in reader strength so that you won’t have to switch between your favorite pair of sunglasses and your reading glasses. With two types of reader lenses and the same UV protection, you can enjoy reading outdoors in comfort.

If you spend a lot of time on the road, either during the day or at night, you likely experience frustrations from the sun’s glare. The sun can bounce off reflective signs, other vehicles on the road, nearby buildings, or even the pavement itself.

This is where a pair of Driving Sunglasses might come in handy. Daytime Driving Sunglasses have darker tinted lenses to help filter bright light from the sun. Our yellow-tinted Night Driving Sunglasses have lighter tinted lenses to help filter lower light.

Lastly, you can choose a pair of polarized lenses if you spend a lot of time outdoors and deal with the harsh effects of glare. Our polarized styles help filter horizontal light to reduce glare and enhance contrast, so you can enjoy a sharp view all day.

The best part? All of our styles come with the same 100% UVA-UVB protection.

Before you set off for your summer vacation or start that garden you've been dreaming of, don't forget to pick up a pair of sunglasses online or at your local Foster Grant retailer.

In hundreds of styles, shapes, and colors, you can find a pair of sunglasses that protects your eyes from UV rays while helping you stay stylish and confident all year long. Remember that a life free from sun damage begins with healthy practices at an early age.

Don't forget fashion when it comes to safety. Find the perfect eyewear frame for your face.

*Potentially harmful blue light refers to the 415-455 nanometer range of the visible light spectrum. The percentage represents the average amount of potentially harmful blue light filtered at 5 nanometer increments in this range. With the exception of Eye Gear™ Gaming Glasses, covered under U.S. Pat. No. 8,360,574. Other U.S. and foreign patents pending.