Bug eyes? Aviators? With great sunglasses, you can look like a movie star and keep your eyes safe from the sun.

But what should you look for? Make sure the sticker says UV400 protection, as this indicates 100 per cent protection from harmful UVA and UVB rays, says Isaac Abenhaim, an optician and owner of Yonge Vision in Toronto.

“Buy from reputable stores,” he adds. “No flea market sunglasses.”

Failing to protect your eyes from the sun can cause short-term problems such as a sunburn to the cornea. And neglecting your eyes summer after summer over many years can lead to long-term problems such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Besides making sure you have full UV protection, here’s some more advice on choosing sunglasses, from Health Canada:
•Make sure the lenses aren’t so dark that they reduce your vision.
•Medium to dark lenses with a grey, slightly brown or green tint are best.
•Check for distortion by putting on sunglasses and looking at a rectangular pattern, such as floor tiles. The lenses are fine if the lines stay straight when you move your head up and down, and from side to side.
•Look for sunglasses with scratch-resistant coating.
•Plastic lenses are tougher than glass and less likely to break.