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The moment we catch a glimmer of the sun’s rays, there’s one item we reach for – a pair of sunglasses (and SPF, obviously). Even if it’s a little fresh on a spring morning, or we are cooking in the 30 degree Maldivian sunshine (we wish), it’s an essential. 

Yes, sunnies look stylish on, whether you opt for retro cat eye styles, Victoria Beckham oversized specs, or Chloe-inspired bohemian goggles, and it can be the missing piece to make an outfit complete. But, sunglasses are more than just an accessory.  

Sunglasses are just as important as sun protection as the right lenses can filter the sun’s harmful UV rays, to protect against your eyes burning (yes they can) or more permanent and irreversible damage over time. However, not all sunglasses offer protection, which is why it is so important to be aware of the labels on your next sunglasses shopping spree. 

Some sunglasses offer UV protection, others may have tinted lenses, or be polarised, but what do these terms mean? More importantly, what is the criteria to find protective, yet stylish sunnies?

We spoke exclusively to Boots Opticians Optometrist, Opinder Malhi, as well as Jake Lawrence-Barber, the Designer Frames Buyer at Boots Opticians, to navigate through the array of sunglasses in search of the best protective eyewear for summer (and beyond), as well as the trending styles worth investing in. 

Opinder explained the key factors to look for: ‘Not all sunglasses are made the same and the level of UV protection provided by sunglasses can vary from pair to pair. All sunglasses from Boots Opticians, both prescription and non-prescription, include filters that provide 100% protection against damaging UVA and UVB rays meeting the International Standard of ISO 12312-1:2013, ensuring your eyes are shielded from harmful sun rays. 

‘Our eyes are up to 10 times more sensitive to UV (ultraviolet) damage than our skin, and exposing our eyes to UV light could have damaging long-term effects. By wearing sunglasses with 100% UVA and UVB protection, you can help shield your eyes and preserve your vision for years to come’, she continued.

Confused about the difference between UV and polarised sunglasses? You’re not alone. The short answer is that the two are different. Sunglasses that offer UV protection, feature the CE or up to UV400 mark on the frames to prove it protects from the harmful UVA and UVB rays. Whereas a polarised lens doesn’t offer UV protection, it merely ‘reduces glare and improves visibility’, says Opinder. 

Protecting the eyes against UV damage is crucial, without this protection you could risk burning the outer layer of the cornea, while long-term damage could cause eye conditions, including cataracts, eyelid cancer or blindness. 

While the ultimate protection is UV400, sunglasses may vary, so this value is vital to check. It is also important to check the lens shade, which ranges from 0 to 4 (the latter being the darkest lens), and keep your eyes peeled for the CE mark, which proves the glasses have conformed to the health, safety and environmental requirements of the EU and offer sufficient UV protection.

Now we have covered the important information, it’s time to find the shape and style to suit you. Jake has shared the popular sunglasses styles this year include 90s-inspired silhouettes, which are categorised by ‘smaller frames in oval and rectangle shapes’. He also noted that oversize bohemian styles are always on trend for festival-goers, as well as minimalist designs with slim frames. 

While the lens colour can play a part in the protection, Jake has revealed there is a shift towards bright coloured lenses, such as yellows, blues and oranges, which offer ‘a playful twist to traditional eyewear.’

The shape of your sunglasses depend on your face shape, style preferences and outfit. In recent years fashionistas have pivoted towards cat eye, round-rimmed designs, as well as aviator styles. 

Boots Opticians is currently offering 25% off designer sunglasses, including Fendi, Prada and Gucci, which is available now until July 15. 

Shop The Expert-Recommended Sunglasses

Prada Symbole Sunglasses

Recommended by Jake, these designer specs have a retro feel, though it is the modern pair of sunglasses everyone in the fashion know has been wearing for months. With 100% UVA and UVB protection, these specs are not only stylish, but sun safe too.

Buy Now for £376

Jimmy Fairly The Berry

Jimmy Fairly has grown in popularity over the years, and it’s one of the affordable, yet stylish, top quality brands to shop new specs.The Berry specs offer a round shape that looks retro, yet classy. The lenses are a category 3, which is one of the higher rankings, certified ISO, IAF, and KAB MC 04, and promise 100% UVA and UVB protection.

BUY NOW FOR £135

Gucci Square Frame Sunglasses

The Aviator trend is a stylish trend that has been hugely popular for many years.Jake revealed that retro styles are popular, as well as the aviator style, which this design nails.With 100% UVA and UVB protection through the light brown lens, these specs deliver on style and protection.

Buy Now for £310

Kapten and Son Zurich Edge Dark Tortoise Green

With a UV400 and EU category 1, these vintage-inspired sunnies are all the craze. It also boasts scratch-resistant lenses so you, and your frames, are protected. Available in plain colours, as well as tortoiseshell, which we love as a versatile staple.

BUY NOW FOR £109.90

Saint Laurent SLM130

Another recommendation from the Boots Opticians Buyer is the Saint Laurent sunnies, which boast a squoval shape, which offers a softer finish in comparison to rectangular or square lenses, as well as asymmetric cat-eye versions.With 100% UVA and UVB protection, a tinted lens, these will keep you protected in the sun.

Buy Now

Ray-Ban RB2140 Original Wayfarer Classic

The most popular pair of sunglasses in our opinion, and a timeless style to see you through decades to come. The Wayfarer Classic is a square-shape, with a slight slant to fit the face and protect against the sun’s rays. This design offers 100% UV protection, and is also fitted with polarised lenses to prevent any glare, which is the ideal combination for walking, driving and slurping on a cocktail beachside.

BUY NOW FOR £202

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A toxin produced by E. coli – the troublesome bug that causes vomiting and fevers – could be behind rising bowel cancer rates.

The disease, also called colorectal cancer, predominantly impacts people over 50 though for the last two decades has begun to impact more young people worldwide.

Many of these countries are richer nations in the west – including England – with poor diet, obesity and eating too much meat among the risk factors.

But exposure to a toxin produced by the bacteria E. coli could also be a factor, researchers revealed today.

Exposure to colibactin as a child can mess up the genetic signature on the DNA of bowel cells, which may increase the chance of developing bowel cancer when younger than 50, a study published today found.

This changes people’s digestive tracks and raises the risk of tumours forming, the researches said, with traces of colibactin found lurking in tumours from patients under 40.

The research, led by the University of California San Diego (UCSD) and published in the journal Nature, saw experts examine 981 bowel cancer genomes from patients with both early and late-onset disease in 11 different countries.

Colibactin’s specific pattern of DNA mutations were 3.3 more common in early-onset bowel cancer cases (in adults under 40) than in those diagnosed after the age of 70.

‘These mutation patterns are a kind of historical record in the genome, and they point to early-life exposure to colibactin as a driving force behind early-onset disease,’ said senior author, Ludmil Alexandrov, a professor at UCSD.

They also found that colibactin-related mutations account for around 15% of APC driver mutations, one of the first genes to go haywire in bowel cancer.

First author Marcos Diaz-Gay, a former postdoctoral researcher, said: ‘If someone acquires one of these driver mutations by the time they’re 10 years old, they could be decades ahead of schedule for developing colorectal cancer, getting it at age 40 instead of 60.’

The work is part of Cancer Grand Challenges team Mutographs, funded by Cancer Research UK.

The director of Cancer Grand Challenges, Dr David Scott, said the colibactin that seems to be affecting bowel cancer is only produced by some strains of E. Coli.

There are many kinds of E. coli, the bulk harmless to humans and are part of a smooth-running intestinal tract. One strain, known as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, can be found wriggling in the insentiences of cows and find themselves in faeces, containing farm soil.

The strain that coughs out colibactin is not linked to infection such as diarrhoea in some people, the study said.

‘It’s unclear how the exposure originates, but we suspect that a combination of factors – including diet – may intersect during a crucial phase in the development of the gut microbiome,’ said Dr Scott.

‘This study adds an important piece to the puzzle of early-onset cancers, but it isn’t conclusive, and more research will be needed to establish a definitive link between colibactin and an increased risk of early-onset colorectal cancer.’

Professor Sir Mike Stratton, Mutographs team lead and senior group leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute, said: ‘Our research has allowed us to generate the hypothesis that the presence of colibactin leads to an increased number of mutations in colon cells, which then causes a greater risk of colorectal cancer at an early age.

‘If this turns out to be correct, we can explore preventive measures such as tests that tell us if the toxin, or the bacterium that makes it, is present, and finding ways to eliminate them from our bodies at a young age.

‘We know that diet and lifestyle choices drive the risk of developing colorectal cancer, but this study has opened up a new and exciting route we can take when researching how to lower the rate of early-onset colorectal cancer.’

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