How can I protect my eyes from the sun's harmful rays?

Sunglasses = sunblock. Not only can a pair of shades look cool (the bigger and darker, the better!), but lenses that have "98-100% UV protection" help prevent skin cancer. If the sunglasses don't carry the American Optometric Association's Seal of Acceptance, have them tested at the store with a photometer that measures the lenses' UV protection. If the shades you like don't offer at least 98% protection, you can ask your optometrist to add a UV coating to the lenses.

Ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been linked to eye damage -- particularly cataract (clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye) and age-related macular degeneration. The easiest way to protect your eyes from the hazardous radiation of the sun is to wear sunglasses. It's also a good idea to request UV protection (an invisible dye) for any prescription glasses you own. Sunglasses need not bear a designer label or cost hundreds of dollars to do their job properly.