Choose sunglasses carefully to protect eyes

After a brutal winter, thoughts of days at the beach, vacations and fun in the sun are appealing. But while sunscreen can protect your skin, there is a crucial part of your body that also needs protection from sunlight: your eyes.

The American Optometric Association says sunglasses can help protect your eyes from diseases linked to ultraviolet radiation, chiefly cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. But not all sunglasses offer the same protection.

Look for sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of all ultraviolet light. This includes UVA and UVB, the two types of ultraviolet light that can be damaging. This information should be on the label. Some manufacturers have labels that say "UV absorption up to 400nm." The American Academy of Ophthalmology says this is the same as blocking 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays.

For more information, go to bit.ly/aoa-sunglasses.