From the playful cat-eye shape to the iconic wayfarer to fun colors and mixed materials, sunglasses make a style statement about the wearer. Aside from making the wearer look incredibly cool, sunglasses provide a vital function, they protect your eyes from the sun’s damaging rays. Just imagine the newest Men in Black film without those instantly recognizable black sunglasses made by the brand Police. Sunglasses have signified personality since their creation; think of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, standing in front of the shop window eating her roll, looking effortlessly cool in her black shades. Or Jamie Foxx’s portal of Ray Charles wearing XXXXXXXXXX.

July is National Ultra Violet Safety Month. While some tend to relegate sunglasses to other fun summer items, they are meant to provide year round protection for the eyes. Like year round sunscreen use that protects the skin, sunglasses protect the eyes even in the winter. Glare from the snow during the winter can be especially damaging to your eyes, especially for children.

In recognition of UV Safety Month The Vision Council put together a great Q &A on Sunglasses. If you’d like to learn more about protecting your eyes from damaging UV light you can visit The Vision Council’s page on UV light by clicking here.

Common UV Protection Q&A from The Vision Council:

Q: Does the darkness of the lenses equate to higher UV protection?

A: No. Dark lenses without adequate UV protection can be worse than wearing no sunglasses at all because they cause the eye’s pupil to dilate, which then increases retinal exposure to unfiltered UV.

Q: Do all sunglasses offer UVA/UVB protection?

A: No. Since shielding the eyes from damaging radiation is crucial, it is imperative to look for a label, sticker or tag indicating UV protection before purchasing a pair of sunglasses.

Q: When do UV rays affect the eyes?

A: UV radiation exists year-round, so despite the season or weather. So it is important to wear proper eye and skin protection while outside during daylight hours.

Q: What should be considered when purchasing a pair of sunglasses?

A: Protection, daily activities, comfort and personal style.

If you are interested in learning more about any of the great sun collections that De Rigo Rem carries contact your local De Rigo Rem Business Consultant today!