You already know how important it is to protect your eyes, as well as how sunglasses reflect a key part of your personality. But when it comes to picking the right pair, there are so many options – which is great, as now there’s something for everyone. At the same time, it can be overwhelming. But don't worry – here we have a list of four must-haves so you can go ahead and purchase that pair of men’s wood sunglasses you’ve been looking at all day.

UV Protection

The importance of quality UV protection simply can’t be stressed enough. Bodies can undergo a miraculous amount of stress, but they wear out at some point. If you have light eyes (such as blue, green, or hazel), they’re more susceptible to sun damage. Any time you’re in a snowy area and the sun is bright, the glare off the snow can be very damaging to your eyes, and if you get cataracts at some point, surgery is the only way to remove them. Not only that – and not to get too morbid here – but eyelid cancer is a thing.

When we’re talking UV rays, there are three kinds:

• UVC, which are pretty much all absorbed by the ozone
• UVB, filtered partly by the ozone, but not all, and these are what causes your tan – and can also cause photokeratitis, or short-term vision loss
• UVA, which can pass through your cornea into the lens/retina, and can cause cataracts

So when you’re shopping for sunglasses, look to make sure they have “UV 400” listed – this will protect from light rays with wavelengths no greater than 400 nanometers. It’s important that the shades also protect you from 99-100% of the UVA and UVB rays.

Polarized

Yes, polarized lenses help protect your eyes, too, but remember that this isn’t the same thing as UV protection. Think of it as you have your shades which protect your eyes from those nasty UVA/UVB rays, but things are still not as clear as you’d like because of the glare off of different surfaces. That glare can be harmful to your eyes, too, and it can be hard to see things clearly. Polarized lenses contain an extra filter inside them to reduce that glare – thereby cutting down on the damage to your eyes, and helping you see more clearly. Yes, being polarized will drive up the cost a bit for you, but it’s well worth it, especially if you’ll be spending a lot of time around a lake, ocean, pool, or any snowy or very bright white areas.

And now here’s a bonus tip: Marketing is a powerful tool in the sunglasses business, like anywhere else. So to make sure your glasses really are polarized, hold them up to any reflective surface – your car’s hood, for example. Tilt your glasses, slowly, and watch to see if the amount of glare changes as the angle of your lenses changes – if it does, then your sunglasses are definitely polarized. 

Comfort

Let’s face it – you want shades that are going to be able to last all day. The sun’s rays are most powerful between 10 am and 2 pm, but it’s still important to wear them anytime you’re outside during the day – yes, even if it’s overcast. And then there will be those days you’ll be at the lake all day, or by the pool, or wandering around a foreign city – and if your sunglasses are heavy, you may have to choose between wearing them but having a headache, or not wearing them and having to squint all the time. Not to mention that unsightly mark on your nose at the end of the day.

The great thing here about wood sunglasses is that they’re more lightweight (and they typically float, which is good news if you accidentally drop them in a body of water), making them much more comfortable for all-day wear – and no mark on the bridge of your nose after! They also will usually have arms that adjust to the shape and size of your face, so no more worrying about your friend stretching them if you decide to be a Good Samaritan because he left his shades at home!

Style

Wood sunglasses today come in all shapes and colors – take for example the classic Wayfarer look. Having made appearances in dozens of movies, it’s a classic that darkens back to the 1950's. You can pick the shade of wood you want, and no two pairs will be exactly alike. The grain of wood in each pair makes them unique, so you can have the same kind of shades as your friends without being exactly alike. When it comes to men’s wood sunglasses, they’re a must-have because they’re classy, better for the environment than plastic, and offer quality protection for your eyes.