Sunglasses are more than just a fashion accessory. Just like sunscreen protects your skin from UV radiation and the harmful effects of undiluted sunlight, sunglasses do the same thing for your eyes. And just like sunscreen helps prevent skin cancer, sunglasses do as well – nearly 10% of cases of skin cancer occur on the eyelids, meaning that sunglasses are a necessary tool for preventing the disease.1

While 76% of adults wear sunglasses, only 1 in 6 adults say they wear them for health reasons. Given the complications that can arise from not protecting your eyes, this can be a dangerous outlook that leads people to not wear sunglasses as often as they should. People with light-colored eyes are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of the sun, and should be extra diligent at remembering to wear shades.2

Along with causing skin cancer, UV rays can also damage the eyes themselves, sometimes leading to impaired vision caused by cataracts (clouds in the lens of the eyes). The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that there are 900,000 people in the world who are currently blind due to cataracts. Wearing sunglasses can minimize UV damage to the eyes and prevent cataracts from forming.1

Cataracts aren’t the only symptom of too much UV exposure to the eyes. Overexposure to UV radiation can lead to the degeneration of the macula lutea, the millions of tiny cells in our eyes that allow us to see small details. When you habitually don’t wear sunglasses, you are more likely to suffer vision loss due to macular degeneration later in life.1

Next time you wait to replace an old pair of sunglasses because you’re not ready to pay for them, remember this number: the estimated annual cost for medical expenses related to vision loss and eye diseases is $139 billion.3 The cost of a pair of sunglasses is nothing compared to the cost of treating and managing the eye diseases that those sunglasses could have helped prevent.

Sunglasses don’t just help maintain health in the long term, either. Wearing polarized sunglasses while running, jogging, and performing other outdoor activities can help improve performance and reduce stress. When athletes squint for long periods due to glare in their eyes, it increases stress on their bodies from tense facial muscles, leading to decreased performance quality and stress-related doctor’s visits.4

While skin wrinkles may not be as disastrous to overall health as other conditions caused by UV exposure, sunglasses can also help prevent them. For anyone who is concerned about their skin and tries to prevent crow’s feet, wearing a pair of sunglasses is an effective skincare tool that should be used every time you hit the beach, go for a run, or do any other outdoor activity that exposes your eyes to sunlight.

Most parents wouldn’t think of sending their kids out into the hot summer sun without making them put on sunscreen first, but according to recent studies, less than 60% of parents make their kids wear sunglasses.2 Skin and eye health care should begin at an early age, so remember to have the kids wear their own pair of sunglasses next time the family heads to the pool, goes camping, or spends a significant amount of time outdoors.

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1. http://www.oprah.com/health/Reasons-to-Wear-Sunglasses-Health-Benefits-of-Sunglasses

2. http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/news/20120517/more-people-even-kids-need-to-wear-sunglasses?page=1

3. https://www.solareyesonline.com/resources/how-to-keep-eyes-healthy

4. https://www.solareyesonline.com/resources/why-wear-sunglasses