Everyone knows that sunglasses are a fashion statement. In this world of celebrity-worship, they symbolize anonymity, an expression of self, and the epitome cool. Sunglasses are an effective and popular form of accessory, but they should also be a functional and essential component of any outdoor ensemble, for their protective and preventative properties.
The basic function of sunglasses, before they became an iconic and popular fashion statement, was, and remains to work as protective eyewear. Sunglasses are designed to shade and protect the eyes and the skin that surrounds them from the negative effects of direct sunlight.
Sunlight is wonderful and an essential part of life, but it can be damaging if taken for granted. For this reason, individuals are encouraged to wear sunscreen and to avoid excessive sun exposure, in order to avoid sunburns and sickness due to heat or sunstroke. In order to protect the eyes and the sensitive skin surrounds the eyes, individuals should always wear sunglasses, as well as a hat that shades the face.
Wearing sunglasses during sun exposure will not only help your eyes to stay strong long into the future; it will also keep you looking youthful, by protecting your skin from experiencing premature aging due to sun exposure. Consider your physical reaction when you walk outdoors on a sunny day; you will automatically squint your eyes in order to see properly. When you squint, you are stressing the skin and the muscles around your eyes, inviting the formation of squint lines and eventually wrinkles that could otherwise have been prevented.
Another reason to wear protective eyewear is in the case of an active or sporty lifestyle. For individuals that are active in outdoor sports, sport sunglasses, or sunglasses that are designed specifically to sustain impact and a lot of wear and tear, are advisable. Not only will these glasses function as a protective barrier for eyes, in the case of blowing sand or a rogue football or soccer ball, but they will also improve your performance on a sunny days outdoors, and give you an advantage over those individuals that are not wearing sunglasses. A perfect example of an outdoor sport where sunglasses are absolutely necessary is beach volleyball. As the ball is hit into the air, you need to be able to maintain focus on the ball, while simultaneously avoid directly looking at the sun; a feat that is virtually impossible without the help of sunglasses.