Wearing sunglasses is important, provided you choose the proper kind. If you want them to be functional as well as fashionable, here are some things to keep in mind while you shop:

Safety

1. UV Protection: The sun produces different kinds of light. The kinds most likely to injure the eye are ultraviolet radiation (which is invisible), bright or intense light, and blue light. UV radiation is commonly divided into UVA and UVB, and your sunglasses should block both forms.

"Don't be misguided by price; higher-priced sunglasses usually just reflect fashion or durability, not UV protection. Sunglasses with a darker tint don't necessarily offer better protection either, as UV protection comes from a clear coating applied to the lens surface, and not the lens colour. Look for a label specifically stating that the lenses offer 99 to 100 per cent UV protection," says Shailesh Singh, an optician based in Lucknow.

"Cheap, tinted sunglasses with little or no UV protection can actually be more harmful, as they cause our eye lenses to open up wider, leaving them even more vulnerable to UV rays," he continues. "Also, choose close-fitting, larger-lens sunglasses that wrap around your temples. These will prevent UV rays from filtering in from around the edges too."

2. Ensure they block enough light: Sunglasses should filter out 75-90 per cent of visible light. "To determine if they are dark enough, try them on while in front of a mirror. If you are able to see your eyes easily through the lenses, they are probably too light," says Shailesh.

Look for a pair that can filter out at least some blue light too, as it is damaging to the retina and can lead to macular degeneration (vision loss from degeneration in parts of the eye). Try putting them on outside -- a blue sky would appear grey with these on.

Text: Richa Pant
Images: Vogue Sunglasses