Shielding Your Eyes in Style: The Best Sunglasses to Pack for Your Next Vacation

If you're going on vacation anytime soon, you'll definitely need to pack sun protection items in your suitcase. Of course, sunscreen, wide-brimmed hats, long-sleeved shirts, and pants are a must to shield you from UV rays that can cause skin cancer. But have you ever considered what the sun can do to your eyes?

The sun's UV rays can penetrate all the way through to your retinas at the back of your eyes, slowly damaging them over time. That makes you more vulnerable to several conditions as you age, including cataracts, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and even eye cancer. AMD, in particular, is the leading cause of blindness in Canadians over 55. That's why it's crucial to bring sunglasses that block 100% UVA and UVB rays, often labeled "UV400," when you travel. 

The best part is that with all the sunglasses options available today, you can easily nab a pair that perfectly suits your needs, preferences, and the travel activities you have in mind. To help you decide on what kind to bring, here's a quick list of the best sunglasses to pack for your next vacation.

Prescription sunglasses 

If you're diagnosed with conditions like nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism, you may feel like wearing corrective eyeglasses will put a damper on your travel experiences. You might worry about breaking them, or not being able to try certain activities because of them. More importantly, you may feel like it'll be hard to shield your eyes from the sun due to the hassle of wearing sunglasses over them. If so, don't fret—you can add your prescription to UV-blocking lenses. Prescription sunglasses conveniently provide both form and function by simultaneously shielding and correcting your vision. As illustrated by those offered on Eyebuydirect, you can even add your prescription to any model that best suits your sense of style, whether you prefer the Aviator-style metal frames of Good Vibrations or the subtle cat-eye acetate design on the Elena. That way, you don't need to keep switching between glasses and sunnies on your trip—or worry about your primary pair of corrective eyewear breaking as you partake in some fun vacation activities. 

Polarized sunglasses 

Even if you're heading to a snowy locale rather than a sunny one, you still need sunglasses. As our post on essential hiking gear explains, that's because the sun also renders you vulnerable to "snow blindness." Also known as photokeratitis, it occurs when sunlight bounces off reflective surfaces like water and snow, overwhelming your eyes with glare. That can cause discomfort, pain, and even temporary vision loss. To prevent snow blindness from ruining your next vacation, pack polarized sunglasses. These use special coatings to block horizontal rays of sunlight with vertical filters. Brands like Abaco even add them to crystal-clear lenses like those on its Monaco model, helping you see true colors and further enhancing how well you view your environment. That can be especially handy in bright conditions, as you'll be able to fully appreciate new surroundings as you travel without having to squint just to see.  

Wraparound sunglasses 

Adventure travel is fast becoming the vacation of choice for people across the world. Canadians are no exception. They're slated to spend more on extended, increasingly immersive, and enriching experiences, and adventure travel—which is characterized by itineraries involving exploring destinations through exciting activities—fits that bill to a tee. If you're looking to enjoy something similar on your next vacation, though, you may make your eyes vulnerable to injuries through scratches, tears, and physical impact. In these cases, it's best to pack a pair of wraparound sunglasses. Their frames extend further back toward the temples, helping protect more of the eye area from both the sun and physical injuries. That's why models like the Sutro from activewear brand Oakley are often used for adventure travel activities like mountain biking: they provide unparalleled protection from dirt and debris, even at high speeds.  

Smart sunglasses 

If you want to wear sunglasses that will do more than just shield your eyes in style, consider getting the kind that's also a wearable technological marvel—smart sunglasses. These offer all the same UV-blocking benefits as their traditional counterparts, but essentially provide the same functionalities as a smartphone. You can use them to send and receive calls and texts, capture photos and videos, and even listen to music on the go. AI-powered sunglasses stand out even more for their travel-friendly features. The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses exemplify that the best. Aside from all the functionalities mentioned above, along with the ability to upload photos and videos of your trip to social media, they offer the Meta AI assistant. You can use its "look and ask" capability to translate signs and menus, receive directions to famous landmarks, and even go on a personalized tour of a new city—all by using nothing but your voice. And since it comes in different styles like Ray-Ban's classic Wayfarer and the more modern Skyler, you can benefit from all those features in a package that suits your unique vacation aesthetic.