Sunny disposition

The quest for the best in summer eye wear

Hinge-less and rimless frames like Maui Jim's 'Kapalua,' are one of the hottest trends in sun wear this season.

(CNN) -- With the summer season in full gear, consumers will be hitting the stores in droves in search of one of the season's most popular accessories... the "perfect" pair of summer shades.

In just one year, Americans purchased more than 96 million pairs of sunglasses, according to optical researchers at VisionWatch, which concluded its study in March 2002.

Whether buying for fashion, sun protection or both, it's easy to become overwhelmed by the myriad of brands, shapes and colors available.

"There's just so much more choice," says a spokeswoman for Sunglass Hut. "With all the high-tech and designer brands out there, buying sunglasses is definitely an educated purchase these days."

The key is finding a pair of sunglasses that fulfill your specific needs. To make your quest a bit easier, Chris Abbruzzese, VP of marketing for Maui Jim Sunglasses, suggests consumers "keep fit, style and protection in mind when looking for summer eye wear."

GALLERY Summer styles in sunwear  Determining your face shape can help you find the best sunglasses suited for you!    MORE STORIES PEOPLE.com: Sunglasses the stars are wearing

To look your best and highlight your facial features, choose a pair of sunglasses based on your face shape.

According to the Vision Council of America (VCA), there are seven basic face shapes: diamond, oval, base-down triangle, base-up triangle, square, round and oblong.

Some of this summer's biggest sun wear fashion trends include '80s-inspired frames, high-tech, sport inspired and luxury, the VCA says.

Think big, bold and chunky. Although these frames may not be ideal for everyday wear, oversized sunglasses can add the finishing touch to that special outfit, whether on the beach or downtown.

Fendi's Occhiali sunglass collection epitomizes this trend with styles like the FS252, which has an oversized square frame with the Fendi logo inlaid on the temples.

The glamorous styles from Fendi's Occhiali collection are ideal for women that want to stand out in a crowd.

Maui Jim's Titanium Sport collection offers hinge-less and rimless shades that weigh in at a meager 11 grams and come with superior UV protection.

Oakley sunglasses are bold, sporty and offer unique designs and technology for consumers. The Half Jacket collection consists of dual lens shades that come with interchangeable lenses. This season Oakley has also debuted the Fate line designed specifically for women.

Several companies are creating sunglasses specific to various sports and activities.

Nike Vision's patented Max Lens Technology takes sports performance sun wear to a larger arena. It provides prescription lens wearers visual precision while playing sports. Another feature of these glasses are the impact- and shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses.

Oakley's Half Jacket collection features dual lens shades that come with interchangeable lenses.

Among Bolle's offerings of sports eyewear is a line of sunglasses made specifically for tennis. Their patented Competivision lens allows the player to vividly see the tennis ball while blocking out bright glare and harmful UV rays.

Italian sunglass maker Serengeti features an extensive line of driving sunglasses that are designed to optimize vision while driving in sunny conditions. Serengeti's driving glasses are a perfect mix of function and fashion.

This season rimless and exotic metals are a big trend in luxury summer eye wear. Sunglass manufacturers are offering unique styles that incorporate both of these features.

Calvin Klein's CK collection features a number of provocative shields in a number of different colors, and DKNY offers an array of funky rimless sun wear.

DKNY's 7827S style features a rimless unisex shied in a lightweight frame.

There's no rule that says you can only have one set of sunglasses. More than one pair of sunglasses can add variety to your summer wardrobe. And as a spokeswoman for Sunglass Hut notes, "Although trends get modified from season to season, if you spend money on a good pair of frames, they can last you for a few years and still look good."

Not only can sunglasses add "spice" to your overall summer look, but they also protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays that can sometimes cause irreversible damage.

Dr. Jeffrey L. Weaver, director of the Clinical Care Group with the American Optometric Association, says sunglass lenses should block 99 to 100 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation and should screen out 75 to 90 percent of visible light. But the color shouldn't modify color perception, he says, adding that gray or brown shades are best.

The Sunglass Hut is the sponsor of The Weather Channel's "Rays Awareness" campaign. In its second year, this program's goal is to promote the dangers of overexposure to the sun while enabling people to safely enjoy the outdoors. When visiting any Sunglass Hut retail store, consumers can pick up a free "Rays Awareness" sun safety brochure, which provides great tips on how to have a great summer of safe fun in the sun.

According to Dr. Weaver, UV light has been proven to cause certain types of cataracts and has been implicated in age-related macular degeneration. These are two of the most common eye health problems encountered later in life.

The effects of UV radiation on the eye are cumulative, so the more time a person's eyes are exposed to UV during their lifetime, the greater risk of developing these conditions.

The general public and celebrities alike embrace the innovative take on sunglass design by Oliver Peoples (OP).

Oliver Peoples 'Speedster' frames

Actresses Jessica Alba and Calista Flockhart, as well as rockers Elton John and Lenny Kravitz, have been seen in fashion spreads wearing OP sunglasses.

Co-founder and designer Larry Leight says recognizable figures are drawn to OP sunglasses because the eyewear stands out and "creates mystique," even without outward branding.

It's never too early to protect your eyes from the sun. If infants and toddlers can't be kept out of direct sunlight, Dr. Weaver says sunglasses are in order. The same goes for older children. They tend to spend more time outdoors than adults, thus exposing their delicate eyes to more UV radiation.

Bolle's 'Pony' kid shades

A number of sunglass manufacturers that cater to adults are expanding their markets to include children's sun wear. Bolle is just one of the companies that offers stylish, yet protective sunglasses for kids.