Made in the Shades By Karyn Zoldan wisecity.com Sunglasses have been around since the 17th century but their ascent in the modern world began in 1929 when Sam Foster sold the  first pair of Foster Grant's at Woolworth on the Atlantic City  Boardwalk. The growth of television and commercials spawned awareness to  fashion and popular culture. Our celluloid and political heroes wore sunglasses flaunting their unique style and creating excitement. Day  or night, sunbathing or nightclub hopping-sunglasses were an accessory like mink coats and diamond bracelets. Who can forget  Jackie Onassis in sunglasses? Image was everything. Tips When buying sunglasses choose: A brand name that offers a quality guarantee Comfort, and durability over style and fashion Protection against UV-A (wrinkles) and UV-B (harmful eye damage/cataracts) Brown glasses for driving provides better  contrast. And compare features, price doesn t always guarantee quality. Got sunglasses? Probably the best-known brand name in  sunglasses is Foster Grant http://www.fostergrant.com/. The campaign,  "Who's that behind the Foster Grant's?" began in the 60s and still runs today. It's the "Got Milk?" of sunglasses featuring some famous people like Elke Sommer, Anthony Quinn, Peter Sellers, Raquel Welch  and Elvis. The marketing message is celebrities wear Foster Grant's  and so can you. Eye health With age thankfully comes wisdom, and image  becomes secondary to good health. You wear sunscreen but did you know sunglasses are equally as important in protecting your eye health? According to the American Optometric Association http://www.aoanet.org/ research shows that years of exposure to the sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can increase the development of cataracts, cause retinal problems that  can lead to macular degeneration, and promote development of cancer  on the eyelid and around the eye. To polarize or not to polarize? "Buying eyewear that may enhance your sport performance is our specialty," says David Miretsky of Los Angeles. He has a niche market http://www.protectyoureyes.com/ for sports  related prescription glasses categorized by sport, and can be ordered as sunglasses too. He advises, "Choose frames that are  strong, safe, and comfortable. Everyone assumes that all sunglasses  have UV-A and UV-B protection and most of them do but if you want to improve your golf game, a polarized filter will improve depth  perception and provide a better "green reading" blocking haze and  glare." Marilyn Latham of Wayzata, Minnesota has been in the optical business for 30 years http://www.polarized.com/. She said that all  good sunglasses have UV protection but polarized lenses eliminate  glare. Polarization is like a chemical venetian blind that lets you rearrange the light so you can see through the glare. Latham  recommends, "Buy based on your personal choice and budget. If wraparound or big frames are your fancy, go for it. Big frames offer more protection for those frown lines around the eyes and style transcends all ages especially with retro fashions." Shapes and sizes So what looks best? At http://www.sunglasscafe.com/ you get a limited visual primer of what shaped face looks best with what shaped frame providing you can read that tiny print on black  background. Correct frame style will flatter your features: If you have an oval face, wear anything. Round faces can wear bold, square, or  angular frames. Square faces do well with oval or round frames. Oblong faces shine from angular or geometric frames. And aviator, round, or oval glasses flatters a heart-shaped face. Eye buy At http://www.shades.com/ you can browse by color, brand, sport, shape, feature, and price. Each pair has a  concise description and if you're not satisfied with your purchase,  return it in the original packaging and receipt within 30 days. Your future looks bright when the eyes have protection.