Shady fashion: Finding the right sunglasses for you

Want to make a bold fashion statement in 2013? Just reach for the shades. "Dramatic, bold and colorful frames, cat eyes and geometric lens shapes are going to be the most popular trends in 2013," says Shannon Kutz, optical manager at Leet EyeCare. "Vintage-style sunglasses were very popular in 2012 and will continue to be popular in 2013."

Kutz gave us tips for finding the right pair of sunglasses for your face:

* Heart-shaped face: Choose a style that draws attention downward. You want glasses that add width to the lower part of your face, so bigger styles work well, but avoid anything that sits high and wide. Shapes with round edges look great and soften the broad upper part of your face.

* Square-shaped face: The goal is not to find hard angular lines that will accentuate your strong features, but to soften them with oval or round frames.

* Round-shaped face: Since round faces have fuller cheeks, you want to pick frames that make your face look longer and thinner. Look for angular frames and more horizontal styles to sharpen the face and add extra length with upswept frames. Another tip for round shaped faces is to choose a style where the temple of the sunglasses connects at the top of the frame.

* Oval face shape: Because oval faces have balanced proportions, most frames look great, so you can really play with different styles.

Not all about fashion

"Sunglasses were once seen as an item for protection from the sun," Kuntz says. "Nowadays, they are considered a major fashionable accessory to have that gives you your own distinct style statement every month of the year. ... However, the idea of sun protection is still the most important factor when choosing sunglasses. According to the American Optometric Association, even on an overcast day, harmful ultraviolet rays can cause sunburn of both the skin and the cornea of the eye. Over time, unprotected exposure to the sun can increase the possible risk of certain types of cataracts and potentially damage the retina, which could lead to total blindness. UV damage is cumulative, so it's never too late or too early to begin protecting the eyes from the sun's harmful rays."

Polarized vs. tinted lenses

"Although darkly tinted sunglasses may reduce brightness, they do not remove glare like a polarized lens," Kuntz says. "Additionally, a dark tint does not protect the eyes against harmful UV rays. However, patients do have the option of choosing a UV protected material or coating for their prescription lenses. Polarized lenses eliminate both glare and filter out UV. All of our doctors and staff highly recommend polarized lenses or at least lenses with UV protection."