Don’t think of sunglasses as mere fashion accessories.

They’re akin to "sunscreen for the eyes,” said Dr. Asim Piracha, an ophthalmologist with the local John-Kenyon American Eye Institute.

To protect against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, "it’s important to wear sunglasses with UVA and UVB blockage,” Piracha said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends selecting sunglasses that are labeled with a UVA/UVB rating of 100 percent to get the most protection.

That’s because "sunlight can be harmful to the eye and to the skin around the eye, and it is known to cause skin cancers,” said Dr. Kris Pugh, an ophthalmologist with Eye Associates, another local practice. "It can also hurt the surface of the eye — the cornea — or even the lining of the eye — the conjunctiva — (and) can cause excessive scarring.”

Ultraviolet light also is thought to contribute to the progression of cataracts and of macular degeneration, said Piracha, medical director at John-Kenyon and the NovaMed Surgery Center in New Albany, Ind.

Some people, such as outdoor workers, get pingueculae, which are bumps on the white of the eye, said Piracha, whose specialties include cataract and refractive surgery.

"Those are more cosmetic,” he said. "They don’t really cause any damage or loss of vision.”

But pterygium, another type of growth, can affect sight, said Piracha, an associate professor in the University of Louisville’s ophthalmology department.

"If it progresses over the pupil region, then they can cause significant loss of vision,” he said.

It’s not completely clear what causes such growths, but ultraviolet light exposure is thought to be a factor, according to the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

To help protect the eyes, Pugh recommends wearing sunglasses, even it’s not a very bright day.

"UV radiation penetrates through clouds ... so it’s just as important if you’re out on an overcast day to wear sunglasses,” he said.

When purchasing sunglasses, look for ones in the wraparound-style or that have the biggest lenses, Pugh said.

"You probably can find a pair for $30 that are just as effective as a brand-name $130 pair,” he said.