These days, just about everyone wears sun glasses: man and woman, adult and child, even pets! For some people, they’re a necessary part of the wardrobe and their “look” wouldn’t be complete without a pair. In fact, many people have several pairs – so that they’ll have at least one to complement whatever outfit they are wearing for the day or night.

But sun glasses aren’t always worn just to look cool. More importantly, they are used to protect the eyes from the negative effects of harsh sunlight and ultraviolet rays. Too much exposure to the sun can actually damage the eyes, causing a condition known as photokeratitis. Just as your skin can get sunburned if you don’t take precautionary measures (like putting on sunblock or carrying a parasol), so too can your eyes get sunburned. And unbeknownst to many people, the sun doesn’t have to be high and shining in order to damage your eyes. Even if the day is overcast and cloudy, don’t make the mistake of thinking that your eyes are safe, because those potent ultraviolet rays are still at work and your eyes can still take a beating from them. High-quality protective eyewear can help reduce the incidence of photokeratitis and other eye diseases by blocking ultraviolet rays.

When shopping for a pair of shades, don’t just consider how stylish they will look. Make sure to prioritize those that offer 100% ultraviolet or UV protection because these will completely block ultraviolet rays from your eyes. Also, eye experts recommend buying protective eyewear having lenses that are colored green, brown, or gray since they filter out UV rays so much better. And in order to maximize protection, go for wrap-around pairs, or those with lenses that completely cover and closely hug the eye area. Since wrap-around shades fit snugly over the skin around the eyes, they are more effective in preventing UV rays from entering from the top or the sides of the glasses.

It is no trouble at all to go out and buy a pair of sun glasses. They’re widely available in malls and specialty stores. Most can be purchased without a prescription, although getting the advice of an optician on the best type of sun glasses to buy can’t hurt.