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Sunglasses: Does Price Matter?

DANVILLE — On a day like this it’s not uncommon to see people walking around with a certain accessory: sunglasses. Chris Bassett of Danville goes th...
sunglasses

DANVILLE -- On a day like this it's not uncommon to see people walking around with a certain accessory: sunglasses.

Chris Bassett of Danville goes through around five pairs of sunglasses a year.

"I just buy whatevers, the cheapest, because I lose them so fast and I scratch them," Bassett said.

"I usually go for cheaper sunglasses so my kids don't break them because they like to get a hold of them," Amanda Oliver said.

But others prefer designer sunglasses.

Robin Glidewell doesn't mind paying more for her shades for several reasons.

"What they look like on me and the darkness and the design," Glidewell said.

"As far as price goes, you have to pay a little more to get quality," Susan James said.

But is that really true? Do higher priced sunglasses equal better protection against the sun?

Optometrist Stacy Conway of Geisinger Medical Center near Danville says the only difference is price.

"As long as it says 'UVA/UVB protection' or it might say 'UV400 protection' on the lens, usually on a sticker on the lens, it really has the same protection as an expensive pair of sunglasses," Dr. Conway said.

Most of the people Newswatch 16 spoke with say they buy sunglasses with dark lenses for better protection.

According to Dr. Conway, the darkness of the lens actually doesn't matter. They can even be clear as long as they say they're UV protective.

"You can't go based on the color of the lens, it's really that sticker," Dr. Conway said.

"I look for the UVA and the UVB protection, that's the most important thing because you want to protect your eyes," James said.

Dr. Conway recommends sunglasses that wrap around your face, for all around protection no matter how much -- or how little they cost.

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