We all know that protecting our skin and eyes from the sun’s harmful rays can prevent a number of different illnesses and diseases, but according to The Boston Globe, a new study conducted in Israel and Boston found that wearing sunglasses can prevent more than just eye discomfort and macular degeneration.

The study, which was published this September in the JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) Opthamology, found that wearing sunglasses could be an important precaution for preventing a condition known as exfoliation syndrome, which can increase the risk for glaucoma and cataracts.

The study also found that rates of exfoliation syndrome differ according to ethnicity and latitude. According to the leader of the study, Dr. Louis Pasquale, people who live further from the equator and who are descendants of Europeans are at most risk of the disease.

There are other environmental factors that can increase a person’s chances of getting the disease; the study found that people who work outdoors near reflective surfaces like water or snow are at almost four times the risk for exfoliation syndrome.

Americans who wore sunglasses outdoors were found to be at a lower risk than those who did not.

If you do decide to wear sunglasses, you should make sure that the lenses are polarized because they are the most protective from UV rays. Polarized lenses can not only protect you from uncomfortable glare but can prevent overexposure to UV rays which can cause macular degeneration and skin cancer in the thin skin around the eyes.

Sunglasses are also important for children, whose eyes are still developing and sensitive, but anyone who goes outdoors should wear them. You should make sure that you are well protected when you’re outdoors for any reason, even if the weather is overcast.