Health -- Shades of UV Protection

Sunglasses don't just make you look cool, they may help shield you from cataract surgery. There are 3 types of ultraviolet rays from sunlight: A, B and C. B is the suspected culprit causing cataracts. A penetrates the skin deeper causing cancer and wrinkles. C is mostly absorbed by the atmosphere before reaching us.


Ideally, go for 100% UVA and UVB protection, plus side and top protection, where most of the UV rays are hitting your eyes. Side protection may slow the progression of crow's feet or fishtails (the wrinkles fan out on the sides of your eyes). Photo courtesy of aps.org

Don't forget your shades on your winter ski or snowboarding trips either. Snow reflects the UV rays right into your eyes.

Do you need UV rays, yes! But much less than you think. A mere 10 minutes a day is plenty to make all the vitamin D your body needs. So no need to over do it ladies!