Buying sunglasses: How to choose the best pair that protect your eyes [Video]

LOS ANGELES (KABC) — From “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” to “Top Gun,” sunglasses ooze iconic Hollywood looks but the search for the perfect pair can sometimes lead your eyes astray.

“Oftentimes the very expensive glasses, you’re paying for the marketing and name brand,” said optometrist Dr. Jonathan Christie with Kaiser Permanente Los Angeles.

While designer sunglasses may cost more, Christie says the high-end shades you find at your optometrist’s office almost always come with adequate sun protection.

Cheap, poor-quality lenses, especially dark-tinted ones, can damage your vision.

“Because if you just have a dark lens without UV protection, you’re dilating the pupil, potentially letting in more harmful rays into the eye,” Christie said.

Sunglasses don’t have to be expensive but look for quality whichever pair you pick.

Christie says you can tell if lenses are low grade if you hold them a few inches from your face and look for a straight line.

“If the …