It's National Sunglasses Day!

• 06/27/2015

Did you know there’s a National Sunglasses Day? Neither did we! After doing some research, we learned that National Sunglasses Day is celebrated every year on June 27. Health care professionals recommend wearing eye protection whenever the sun is out to shield your eyes from ultraviolet radiation (UV) and blue light, which can cause serious eye problems.

If you’re having problems with your vision, remember that your plan provides covered eye care services such as:

• Eye exams
• Eyeglasses (including identical replacement for loss, theft or damage beyond repair)
• Repairs to frames and lenses for eyeglasses covered under the plan
• Tints or polarized lenses (when medically necessary)
• Contact lenses when medically under certain conditions

A few more fun historical facts about the evolution of sunglasses:

• Way back in prehistoric and historic times, Inuit people wore flattened walrus ivory “glasses” that had very narrow slits that helped block harmful sun rays.
• It wasn't until the early 1900s when sunglasses became more popular - particularly among movie stars - and by the 1940s, they were being viewed as a fashion accessory.
• Inexpensive sunglasses were first introduced in the United States by a man named Sam Foster who began selling them in 1929 under the name Foster Grant from a Woolworth Store on the boardwalk in Atlantic City, New Jersey.