Protecting your eyes from the sun

Choose sunglasses that:

�  Provide maximum protection from UV light

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light increases your chance of cataracts. The greater the blockage of UV light, the lower your risk of damage. Choose lenses that block 99 percent to 100 percent of ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) light. Check the label.

�  Reduce glare

Choose sunglasses that are dark enough to reduce glare - light that bounces off smooth surfaces such as pavement, water, sand and snow - but not so dark that it's hard to read traffic signals. Polarized lenses decrease glare, but make sure they also provide maximum UV light protection.

�  Fit close to your face

To minimize UV light that can enter from the sides, buy wraparound sunglasses.

�  Meet your needs

Sunglasses that meet the above criteria don't need to be expensive. If you wear glasses for vision problems, ask your eye doctor about transition lenses that protect your eyes by darkening automatically when you're out in the sun. However, it takes time for the lenses to darken and lighten in different lighting conditions, so make sure these types of lenses meet your needs.