I have always been blessed with perfect vision. I never liked to even wear sunglasses or hats to shield my eyes. It was a feeling of freedom to have nothing on my face. I thought that glasses were foolish if you did not need them to see, and used for status symbols or fashion and attention if they were not prescription.

I have come to realize that sunglasses are important in anti-aging. They can prevent wrinkles and discoloration, and potentially even eye cancer. I have since started wearing them, and so should you.

When the sun is bright, it can cause you to squint, thus making crow’s feet lines that over time might need Botox to treat. The lines can become permanent over the years, aging you. Sunglasses with proper UV protection can filter these harmful rays.

Melanoma can occur in the eye, and sun exposure is always a factor, so shielding the eye from the sun seems to make a lot of sense. Always check with your doctor if a new dark area appears on the eye.

The sun also ages skin, causing a breakdown of collagen and elastin fibers that can lead to sagging and thin skin, wrinkles and discolorations. Proper lenses can filter out these UV rays and keep the periorbital area looking youthful.

So go ahead and splurge on some cool shades, as long as they have proper lenses and size to protect the area well. You can look great as well as maintaining your youth. Total win-win.