Reach For Those Sunnies
By admin • May 11th, 2010Over-sized sunglasses are the ultimate celebrity accessory, with everyone from Cheryl Cole to Victoria Beckham pulling on a pair when they wish to hide their peepers from the paps.
Indeed, while other styles, such as Aviators and Ray-Bans, may come and go, large sunnies have been a summer staple for years now and allow women to brighten up an otherwise typical day by imagining they are on the run from the press.
But as well as packing a fashion punch, the shades can also help to offer advanced protection for eyes against the sun.
According to Specsavers, harmful UV rays released by the sun can put eyes at risk, leading in some cases to a painful irritation to the cornea at the front of the eye.
Commonly known as snow blindness, the condition of photokeratitis can result in cancer of the corneas, age related macular degeneration, cataracts and even blindness.
Paul Carroll, Specsavers director of professional services, said that for this reason, it is advisable to choose a pair of shades that offer maximum UV protection.
He advised ladies to avoid cheap, imitation brands and look out for glasses with the CE mark and the British Standard BS EN 1836: 2005, which ensures that the lenses offer a safe level of UV protection.
Not only can big sunnies protect the eyes, but in addition they can help to ward off premature aging of the skin.
"When buying your sunnies, look for frames that will cover the whole eye area. This will help to prevent ageing effects of sunlight on the skin around the eyes too," Mr Carroll stated.
He went on to urge women who wear glasses to aid their sight to choose a tinted pair for the summer or a set of prescription sunglasses. Ladies could opt to have their existing glasses tinted or to have new lenses put in a favourite frame, as long as it is of the right quality, while lenses that darken when worn in sunlight could also be an option for consumers.
In terms of style, Specsavers’ fashion guru Gok Wan said that over-sized and Aviator designs will all be on trend this summer.
Women who wish to choose the sunnies worn by their favourite celebrity may be interested to hear that Carola Long, in an article for the Independent, recently claimed large, round frames have been spotted on the likes of Victoria Beckham and Florence Welch of Florence and The Machine.
Meanwhile, Kate Moss is a fan of Ray-Ban Wayfarers in black or tortoiseshell, while floral frames are also likely to be popular this year.
"Brights look great on darker complexions. Don’t get too hung up on face shape rules though - one can’t imagine iconic sunglasses wearers such as Patti Smith or Debbie Harry in Specsavers agonising over whether Wayfarers make their face look long," Ms Long concluded.
Indeed, whatever style they choose, women may be sure this summer that they are looking after their eyes, while also looking good.
Did you know about the danger UV poses to your eyes?