Do You Really Need To Wear Sunglasses?

For many people, sunglasses are a non-negotiable accessory, and for good reason. There really is no better instant boost to your look after a sleepless night, late night out, or even when battling allergies. Of course, sunglasses can also be your best friend during or even after crying sessions (via The Hairpin).

More than that sunglasses give off a powerful look. After all, who doesn't look more chic and put together when donning a great pair of shades?

If you don't know which ones to get there are countless bits of advice depending on whether you have an oval, round or diamond shaped face. On top of that each year brings its own crop of the best sunglasses.

However besides the glamour and convenience that a good pair of shades bring, are sunglasses a necessity? There are actually quite a few medical reasons why you might want to get a good pair of sunglasses.

A small pair of sunglasses can do an assortment of amazing things but the most important perhaps, is protect your eyes against UV rays. When UV rays damage the eyes, it can result in macular degeneration, and that can lead to blindness as you age. In fact, it's one of the main causes of blindness in the elderly (via American Family Physician).

According to ophthalmologist Dr. Rebecca Taylor not covering your eyes in sunlight has harmful effects, telling Time, "When you don't wear protection, ultraviolet radiation you cannot see is penetrating the eye, and the eye structures are very sensitive to it."

This sets up the eye for a cascade of events. "If you put a target in the center of the retina right behind the pupil, the macula would be the bull's-eye," says Taylor. "And when light comes into the eye, it hits that macula like a laser beam."

Wearing sunglasses can also be a helpful safety practice. Vision can be easily impaired in bright sunlight and impaired vision can lead to falls, losing your balance, biking and traffic accidents. Wearing polarized sunglasses is the best way to reduce glare from the sun (All About Vision). Polarized lenses help you see better by quelling the sun's rays.

Normally, sunlight can bounce off of water or the hood of your car and come at your eyes horizontally and vertically and at other angles, too. With polarized lenses, your eyes will only have vertical rays to deal with, and since glare is usually from horizontal rays, you'll be able to see better.

Sunglasses can also help prevent headaches, especially migraines, since bright lights can be a trigger. According to Medical News Today, up to a whopping 80 percent of people who have migraines find that they are triggered by bright sunlight, a condition known as photophobia.

Finally, sunglasses also help protect your delicate eye skin from wrinkles and crepey skin (Yahoo! Life). If you're convinced and ready to shop, check out the most popular styles of sunglasses.