Consumer Guide to Sunglasses

While sunglasses are essential for protecting eyes from sun damage, they also improve vision and can make a fashion statement with hot designer logos.

If you want to stay current with seasonal trends, visit our regularly updated what's new in sunglasses section. You also can scan the articles below for practical tips about different topics, ranging from designer eyewear to prescription sunglasses.

Designer and Celebrity Eyewear
Many clothing designers and celebrities have their own lines of sunglasses. Some of the hottest sunglasses are from Gucci, Fendi, Michael Kors, Donna Karan, Carolina Herrera, Vera Wang, Kenneth Cole, and Tommy Hilfiger. Celebrity eyewear is branded with names such as Britney Spears, Thalia, Joan Collins, Jerry Garcia, and even Donald Trump!

Eye Doctor Q&A
Our advisory board members answered these questions about sunglasses and UV light.

Kids' Sunglasses
Many parents don't think about sunglasses for their children, but experts say that sun damage to the eye is cumulative over a person's lifetime. Learn the best ways to protect your kids; plus, the top five trends in kids' sunglasses.

New Sunglasses
What's in style now: up-to-the-minute sunglasses you can find in stores.

Nonprescription Sunglasses
The latest styles range from retro aviators, gradients and John Lennon sunglasses to dramatic plastics, specialty metals, wraparounds and futuristic shields.

Click on photo to see close-ups and style names for these sunglasses.

Sports and Performance Shades
Sports sunglasses leave your street ones far behind in terms of flexibility, durability, non-slip materials and more. Find out which features to look for, whether you're buying sunglasses for a specific sport (such as golf sunglasses) or a multipurpose style.

Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses filter light reflected from horizontal surfaces, which makes your eyes more comfortable when you're driving, out on the water or playing sports.

Prescription Sunglasses
Find yourself squinting in the sun, but don't want to suffer the blur of going without your eyeglasses? Prescription sunglasses to the rescue!

Test Your Sunglasses "Eye-Q"
Find out what you really know about sunglasses in this self-test.

Ultraviolet (UV) Light and Your Eyes
Is it really that bad for you and your kids to go outside without your sunglasses?

[Page updated March 2008]