Sunglasses are more than just a fashion statement they also help to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays that have been known to cause several serious eye problems. Healthcare professionals have recommended that you should wear a good pair of sunglasses that are able to block up to 100% of harmful UV rays whenever outdoors and a good pair of sunglasses does not always mean an expensive pair of designer glasses.

Although fashion usually dictates what different types of sunglasses are trendy, there are always other options to purchase affordable sunglasses that are similar in style but for a fraction of the cost. There have been many styles that have gone in and out of fashion over the last few decades. The following 5 models of sunglasses have been fashionable at multiple times throughout our modern history.

1-Teashades
Teashades, also known as John Lennon glasses, were very popular in the 1960's, but have largely fallen out of fashion since then. It is rumoured that they are making a comeback with recent paparazzi photos of famous actresses and musicians sporting the teashade frames.

2-Aviators
The Aviator design was introduced in 1936 specifically for U.S. military pilots and was not made available to the public until a few years later. In 1986 Tom Cruise popularized Aviators as ace pilot Maverick in the movie Top Gun.

3-Oversized Sunglasses
Oversized sunglasses first became popular in the 1960's when women purchased them to mimic the ones famously worn by Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. They have recently made a comeback once again in the 21st century and their popularity is largely due to fashionistas like Paris Hilton.

4-Wraparounds
Largely first made popular in the early 1990s wraparound sunglasses are the number one choice for athletes, from regular teams sports to extreme sports.

5-Ray-Ban Wayfarer
Created in 1952 Ray-Ban's Wayfarer sunglasses opted for plastic frames rather than the tradition metal ones. Originally developed for pilots, Wayfarers quickly became popular amongst Hollywood stars like Marilyn Monroe and James Dean. In 1961 Audrey Hepburn wore them in the film Breakfast at Tiffany's and Tom Cruise sported them in the 1983 film Risky Business. Even today the Wayfarer is still a popular model of sunglasses.

When it comes to sunglasses it is not just fashion that dictates the color of the lens. In fact each color lens actually has specific benefits for the wearer. The following are the most common colors and their benefits:

Yellow - minimizes color distortion, increases contrast, increases depth perception
Green - maintains true colors
Purple - mainly cosmetic
Blue - mainly cosmetic
Brown - minimizes color distortion, increases contrast
Red - minimizes color distortion
Rose - minimizes color distortion, increases contrast
Turquoise - increases contrast, minimizes color distortion
Grey - minimizes color distortion, maintains true colors
Orange - minimizes color distortion, increases contrast, increases depth perception

Whether your choice is due to fashion or simply to protect your eyes from the sun, sunglasses do not have to be expensive to work properly, but they should at the very least protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

Corey Rozon is a freelance business writer from Canada.
This article about the brief history of sunglasses was written for Olympic Eyewear, a sunglasses company specializing in selling wholesale sunglasses, such as wholesale brand name sunglasses.

Corey Rozon