A century ago, a man would own at least a few hats. Today, sunglasses have taken their place and hats are worn by only by a very few men. While they certainly protect your eyes, they are also an excellent way to add personal style to your outfit. With that said, there are some hard and fast rules one should adhere to when wearing shades. As with many an accessory, there is a right way and a wrong way to wear them. Either sunglasses will protect you and make you look suave and debonair, or they’ll protect you and make you look like a first class jerk.

Things To Know About Sunglasses

Sunglasses, like many accessories, stemmed from a very practical purpose; protecting the eyes from intensity of light to enhance your vision  when it’s  impaired by light or glare. Today, they are no longer a simple, practical tool. They are, without any doubt, a way to showcase personal style and flair, with some owning multiple pairs so they can match the right pair of shades with their outfits, occasion and mood. In most scenerios, eye doctors will recommend wearing protective eyewear such as sunglasses anytime the sun is out. Regardless of season, sunglasses are a daily prescription that most people should be tasked with wearing. In fact it is the glare of the sun off the snow during winter that can be the most blinding of all.

Historically, for as long as man has squinted at the blinding sun, the use of sunglasses has been around. Dating as far as prehistoric times, the inuit people would cover their eyes with rudimentary, slitted goggles made from walrus ivory from the harsh rays of the sun. While this is the first documented use of sunglasses, the Roman emperor Nero was the man who really brought sunglasses to public light.

How Sunglasses Work

What’s important to look for, regardless is protection from ultraviolet radiation, otherwise known as UV rays. These carry some of the most harmful side effects of the sun, which can result in both short-term and long-term ocular degeneration pr impairment. Always bear in mind that protection afforded by sun shade cannot be seen. Darker lenses do not offer more protection. The only way to ensure optimal protection from the sun is to either have them tested or made by a qualified optician. The lens is the defining part of the glasses that is responsible for the primary protection of your eyes.