If you’re shopping for a new pair of sunglasses, you may find yourself feeling skeptical about the hype associated with buying those made by a high profile designer. Designer sunglasses may be far more expensive than those found at chain retail stores like Target, but with the extra price come some surprising extra benefits.

Cheap sunglasses are often constructed from tinted plastic that offers no protection from UV rays. These sunglasses can actually cause more damage to your eyes than sun alone, because they block out light causing your pupils to dilate in order to see better. As your pupils dilate, the UV rays are able to penetrate further into your retina, causing more potential damage than if you were not wearing sunglasses at all. In contrast, expensive designer sunglasses typically offer a minimum UV protection rating of at least 400.

Designer sunglasses also feature lenses in assorted colors, while most cheaper sunglasses do not. Darker lenses are fine for normal day to day activities, such as driving or going for a run, but specialized activities can require special lens colors. For example, yellow lenses deflect blue light, making them ideal for snowboarding or biking. Green lenses block out some blue light, causing all colors to become sharper and better defined.

Designer sunglasses are also always made from higher quality materials than cheap sunglasses, and are durable yet lightweight. The also generally have scratch resistant lenses that will keep their new look for longer than a pair of cheap glasses. Designer sunglasses also will not break as easily as a pair that costs $20 or less.

Finally, there is always something to be said about style. Wearing a pair of designer glasses can make you feel like a celebrity. Your glasses can serve as an instant topic of conversation as friends and family notice them, and you will be treating yourself to owning something created by a high profile designer.