The Best Women’s Sunglasses

Buying Guide

Sunglasses are more than just a way to safeguard your eyes. These days, a good pair of shades also serves as a fashion statement.

But safety is still a priority.

By wearing sunglasses when your eyes are exposed to sunlight, you’ll prevent damage. In fact, studies have shown that long-term ultraviolet (UV) light exposure can lead to cataracts, a tissue growth called pterygium or even eye cancer. Short-term, it could cause photokeratitis, a pain in the cornea similar to sunburn.

Any protection is better than none at all, but to truly safeguard your eyes, you’ll need a pair of sunglasses that is designed to filter out the most harmful UV rays. Also look for polarization to help cut down on glare. This is especially important if you’ll be wearing the sunglasses for long periods of time — while driving, for instance.

Sunglasses won’t be useful if they break halfway through your outing. For this reason, spending a little more money for a pair that will hold up over the long haul can be well worth it. Look for sunglasses with frames that will prevent breaking if they’re bumped or they fall off.

• The size of the glasses makes a difference in the protection you’ll get. Oversized lenses or those that wrap around will give you more protection than smaller frames.
• It can be tempting to assume that darker lenses provide more protection against UV rays, but this isn’t true. The key is to look at the product description and make sure the lenses have been specifically designed to block UV rays.
• Lighter-colored lenses like amber, green and gray provide more contrast, making them ideal if you’re playing an outdoor sport like baseball or golf where you need clarity.
• You’ll often see the word “polarization” on sunglasses. This doesn’t protect your eyes from UV rays, but it can help with eye strain. Polarization reduces the glare coming off objects like wet pavement and bodies of water.
• Scratch-resistant lenses can extend the life of your sunglasses, especially if you tend to drop them or wear them while you’re playing sports.
• Comfort is important, too. Some prefer rubber nose pads while others like the simplicity of a solid plastic build.
• If buying online, measure your face and pay attention to the diameter of the glasses. It can be tough to tell how large frames are, or how tight they’ll be on your face when you can’t try them on.