Sunglasses Aren't Just for Looking Cool

When I was a little girl, I loved wearing sunglasses. Even though back then I wore big glasses, I would still buy sunglasses and wear them OVER my glasses! For some reason, I thought that was cool. I only wore sunglasses then because they made me feel cool and important. But today I had the chance to be a part of a very important conversation that helped me realize that sunglasses are a must for your health, no matter the age.

When you go to buy sunglasses, usually you'll find a sticker on them that says "UV". But do you really know what that means at all? UV rays cause sunburns and skin cancer, but they can also cause extreme harm to your eyes, some of which is unchangeable.

Today I learned that you can actually sunburn your eyes. Honestly, I never had any idea you could do this. But it's possible and it's very painful. Anderson Cooper had this happen after extensive filming in the water all day. Since water reflects UV rays, it's imperative that you wear sunglasses or goggles with UV protection when you're near the water!


I always knew that the sun could harm your skin, but I never knew how badly it could harm your eyes too. Did you know that long term exposure to UV rays can have devastating effects on your eyes like photokeratitis, cataracts, age-related macular degeneration and cancer of the eye and surrounding skin? I don't know about you but I already wear contacts so my eyes aren't perfect. So after learning this today, I'll be wearing sunglasses a lot more often!


Mary has a lot of different sunglasses and she's the opposite of most children. She likes to wear them everywhere, even inside the house!

UV Rays hurt children's eyes just as much as they hurt adult's eyes, so make sure to keep your kids and family summer ready with UV resistant pairs of sunglasses and goggles. Honestly, it's the best gift you can ever give them!