Saddleback Eye

Chanel, Prada, Gucci, Coach. We all know the brands. Whether they are big and bold, or glittery and gold, sunglasses have become a popular fashion accessory. If you are buying a new pair of sunglasses this summer, make sure to choose carefully with eye protection in mind.

Unfortunately, many of today's designer brands fall short on actual sun protection. Statistically, 7 out of 10 adults will develop a sun-related disorder during their lifetime, and medical studies show that eyelid cancers, cataracts, and macular degeneration (aging retinal disease) are caused by long-term sun exposure. Invisible ultraviolet (UV) rays, along with blue-violet visible rays, pose a potential hazard to the human eye.

You're sitting at the kitchen table with your morning coffee and newspaper. Nowadays it seems like you're straining your eyes to focus on the print and holding the paper further and further away — in fact, your arms aren't long enough. Sound familiar?

Around age 40, you begin to need reading glasses for up-close activities and you may even need bifocals or progressive lenses so you can see both distance and near objects with one pair of glasses. This loss of focus in near vision is called presbyopia and naturally occurs in your 40s or 50s. You can no longer read a book or magazine, see your cell phone or text, or see your watch clearly without reading glasses. Even activities like putting on makeup or shaving become difficult without reading glasses.