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While you might be in the habit of remembering to wear sunscreen, it’s just as important to don a pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes.

Proper shades can shield your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light exposure. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), this can lower your risk of health conditions like cataracts, eye cancer, and snow blindness.

Of course, you might also want your sunglasses to make a statement, helping to show off your personality. Here are our top picks that offer both protection and style.

While evaluating a wide range of sunglasses, we automatically eliminated pairs that didn’t clearly note 99 to 100 percent UV protection, per AAO and American Cancer Society (ACS) guidelines.

After that, we looked for bonus comfort and safety features, such as polarized and scratch-resistant lenses. We also kept an eye out for impressive style notes, a wide variety of color options, highly regarded customer reviews, and affordability.

A good pair of sunnies can range widely in price, depending on the brand and features. Our choices use the following price guide:

You can’t go wrong with a classic aviator — especially when they have a 4.2-star rating and over 1,000 reviews on Amazon (not to mention a pretty enticing price).

The polarized lenses block glare, and you can choose from six colorways to show off your style. And if the traditional aviator width of 58 to 62 millimeters (mm) feels too big, you can opt for a square version at 55 mm.

Retro fashion is back, and round sunglasses toe that nostalgic-yet-modern line with flair. This lightweight pair transitions well between sporty activities (hello, stylish runner) and leisurely wear, helping you get the most out of the expensive price tag. That said, the price reflects an abundance of features: proprietary nonslip nose and temple pads, water- and fingerprint-resistant coatings, and anti-scratch and anti-fog properties.

Learn more about ROKA here.

Price: $$ Boxy frames like these look amazing on round and oval face shapes. Not to mention, the three color variations look chic with just about any outfit. The lenses are scratch-resistant to avoid any unwanted lasting marks. Bonus: You can also opt for an impact-resistant prescription lens, so you can skip the contacts and get the eye protection you need.

Learn more about Warby Parker here.

Price: $ While oversized sunglasses may feel synonymous with celebrities of the early ’00s, they’re making a comeback for both fashion and your health. The AAO recommends bigger sunglasses that offer more coverage, as it limits the opportunity for UV rays to damage both your eyes and the sensitive surrounding skin. As far as fashion statements go, these polarized GQUEEN sunglasses come in 15 mirrored hues, while the cat-eye frames say hello from the start. (The frame width is also adjustable for a comfy fit.) While the 4.3-star Amazon rating speaks for itself, we’d be remiss not to mention the packaging your sunglasses arrive in. The manufacturer notes it’s eco-friendly and includes a waterproof pouch and microfiber cleaning cloth.

Price: $$ Much like oversized sunglasses provide more protection, the AAO says wraparound-style glasses can lower the risk of UV rays entering your eyes from the side. This pair from Suncloud features an 8-base frame and lens curvature, which means it’ll wrap on your face more. A more traditional 4-base pair tends to sit flat. The lenses have a hefty number of features, too. Not only are they polarized and anti-reflective to filter glare and bump up the contrast (great for playing in the water or snow), they’re also designed to feel light and airy while nixing distortion and adding impact resistance.

Price: $$ A quality, stylish pair of wayfarers is great for anyone’s sunglasses collection, as the versatile design works for most face shapes. Plus, this pair from Smith Optics has a variety of options for lens and frame color mixing. You can take a more classic route (think vintage tortoise frames) or add a pop of personality (like with a red mirror lens). These also offer all the tech features you need: full UV protection, polarized lenses (one reviewer says the clarity is “like putting on HD glasses”), impact resistance, and smudge-, moisture-, and reflective-resistant coatings.

Price: $$ When you’re in need of a versatile pair of sunglasses, a chic tortoiseshell delivers — especially when it comes in a modern cream-grey gradient. But this pair from DIFF Eyewear is extra special.

According to the World Health Organization’s 2019 World Report on Vision, at least 1 billion people worldwide are living with a vision impairment that could have been prevented or hasn’t been addressed. To help fix this, DIFF partnered with international development charity Sightsavers. For every pair sold, someone in need receives eye exams, glasses, medication, or surgery. As for the shades you’ll receive, the 4.8 stars and over 200 reviews scream positivity: The oversized frames provide added coverage, and the lenses are scratch-resistant. Note that reviewers say these run a little large for someone with a smaller head.

Learn more about DIFF Eyewear here.

Price: $$ Sunglasses with bamboo arms immediately lend a cool factor — and they let everyone know you care about reducing your carbon footprint. These glasses have repurposed bamboo arms, with polarized, prescription-friendly lenses. Plus, the company donates 10 percent of their profits in partnership with Aravind Eye Care System and Restoring Vision. This helps to fund eye exams, glasses, and cataract surgeries for those who need them.

Price: $ Standing out in a crowd is easy with these colorful sunnies. Reviewers love how comfortable and sturdy they feel. The lenses aren’t polarized, though, so it’s best to don them when you don’t have to worry about glare (so, don’t wear them while you’re driving). At a low price point, you can nab a pair in both colors, making it easy to mix and match to your mood.

Price: $$ Whether you prefer to dive in the waves or are more of a stay-in-the-sand type, these sunglasses are great for a day with sun, sand, and surf. They’ll help keep your eyes safe with full UV protection and a wraparound style. Plus, your visibility will stay on point under bright conditions thanks to their polarized, scratch-resistant lenses. They’re also designed to float on water — you know, just in case they happen to slip after a photo-worthy cannonball — and come in eight colors.

Price: $$ REKS says these lenses are made with an optical-grade polycarbonate that’s 10 times more shatter-resistant than glass or plastic. That means you can toss this pair in your bag without worrying about pulling out cracked glasses. With seven color options, you’ll be able to mix and match to any outfit.

While a stylish pair of shades is fun, it’s equally (if not more) important that your sunnies offer proper protection.

First and foremost, the ACS recommends sunglasses provide 99 to 100 percent UV or UV400 protection, meaning they block both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. The label may also read “UV absorption up to 400 nm” or “meets ANSI UV requirements,” according to the ACS.

Be wary of any pair labeled “cosmetic,” since they’ll only block about 70 percent of UV rays. Try to stay away from sunglasses with no label at all, and assume they don’t provide any protection.

Size also plays a role. The AAO follows the logic of “bigger is better,” noting that the more coverage your shades can provide, the less likely it is you’ll have sun damage.

The AAO recommends opting for oversized or wraparound-style glasses over micro-sized lenses.

Keep in mind that dark lenses don’t necessarily mean your sunglasses are up to the task. And colored lenses don’t do a better job at blocking UV. But the AAO says some, like brown or rose-colored lenses, can increase contrast.

While polarized lenses don’t offer additional protection from UV, they help reduce glare to make outdoor activities safer for your eyes.

There are six face shapes: square, round, heart, oval, rectangle, and diamond. You can find your face shape by taking a selfie and tracing your finger around your face. Certain types of sunglasses frames tend to flatter certain face shapes better than others.

Here’s a few styles to try depending on your face shape.

Your sunglasses are a good fit when they don’t move around on your nose or face. They’ll feel snug around your ears and nose but not so snug they leave marks or indents when you take them off. You don’t want a pair of glasses that pinches or squeezes.

Check to see if your eyes are in the center of the lenses and whether at least half of your eyebrows show above the frame. This can help you gauge if a pair of sunglasses fit.

To get a precise fit, measure the distance between your temples. Many sunglasses list the temple size (in millimeters) on the inside of the arm.

Looking for more information about the best sunglasses for style and safety? Take a look at these frequently asked questions.

In 2022, square or rectangular frames are one of the biggest sunglasses trends. Aviators with more modern design upgrades are a hit, too. And sunglasses with transparent frames offer a good option for trendsetters with a more minimal style.

Aviators and cat-eye sunglasses are two popular women’s styles that have stood the test of time. Wayfarer sunglasses, which suit almost every face shape, are another popular choice. You’ll also see square or rectangular shades on plenty of faces worldwide.

The AAO recommends choosing sunglasses that have 100 percent UV protection or UV400 protection to block both UVA and UVB rays. Any sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection should do a good job of protecting your eyes. Oversized sunglasses (any style that offers extra coverage, such as wraparound glasses) provide additional coverage so UV rays can’t enter your eyes from the side.

Buying — and regularly wearing — the right pair of sunglasses is important for your eye health. Look for labels noting that your shades offer full UV protection.

Last medically reviewed on April 29, 2022

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