With the abundant styles of sunglasses on the market it's always wise to be able to compare before buying a pair.

With the abundant styles of sunglasses on the market it's always wise to be able to compare before buying a pair.

Sunglasses are one of the smallest accessories you can wear, and yet a pair of shades has been known to help define an era.

Will Smith sparked a fashion hit when he wore them in the hit film Men in Black. Everyone wanted to be seen in a pair.

Sunglasses have a functional side as well. A quality pair will protect your eyes - particularly the exposed cornea - from the harmful UVA and UVB rays of the sun, helping you to maintain strong eyesight throughout your lifetime.

People want different things in sunglasses.

You can wear them for a comfortable vision, considering that the sun's brightness and glare interferes with comfortable vision and the ability to see clearly by causing a squint or the eyes to water.

Or you can wear them for dark adaptation. Spending just two or three hours in bright sunlight can hamper the eyes' ability to adapt quickly to night-time or indoor light levels. This can make driving at night after spending a day in the sun more hazardous.

People should wear sunglasses outdoors whether they are working, driving, taking part in sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun.

Sunglass fashion and function are not incompatible. When choosing a pair, choose one that is fashionable but also good for your eyesight.

Fashion sunglasses tend to focus on the styling and appearance of the frame and less on the lens. Personal preferences drive the frame selection. You can buy prescription sunglasses or glasses which change from clear to dark from your eye care practitioner.