Why Sunglasses Belong in Your Anti-Wrinkle Routine
By Bob Pino, Optician & Founder of Hook Optics
People spend hundreds of dollars on eye creams, serums, and skincare routines, and some may help. But after 47 years as an optician, I can tell you something most people never hear:
Your anti-wrinkle routine starts long before you open a bottle of cream.
It starts with a good pair of sunglasses that you should wear every single day.
Yes, really.
Let me explain why.
The Eye Area Ages Faster Than Anywhere Else
The skin around your eyes is the thinnest, most delicate skin on your entire body. It has less collagen, fewer oil glands, and it dries out faster than any other area.
That’s why wrinkles show up there first.
Crow’s feet, fine lines, crepey skin, it all starts sooner than we expect.
And the number one thing that ages this area?
The sun.
Sunlight Causes Up to 90% of Visible Aging
Most people blame aging on birthdays but dermatology studies show something different:
Up to 80–90% of visible aging is caused by UV exposure, not age.
That includes:
- Crow’s feet
- Under-eye wrinkles
- Sagging skin
- Sunspots
- Crepey, thin texture
The sun breaks down collagen and elastin, the building blocks that keep skin smooth and firm. Once they’re damaged, wrinkles show up and deepen over time.
And around your eyes, where the skin is thin?
Damage shows even faster.
How Sunglasses Help Prevent Wrinkles
Sunglasses protect your eyes, yes.
But they also protect your skin around your eyes and most people don’t realize how important that is.
1. They block UV that causes wrinkles
UV rays hit the delicate skin around your eyes all day, even when it’s cloudy.
When you wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection, you dramatically cut the damage that leads to crow’s feet and fine lines.
This is why I insist that every Hook Optics lens, Hydroo, ThermoForce, every single one, has full 100% UV protection, no exceptions.
2. They stop the squinting that creates expression lines
Crow’s feet don’t just come from sun exposure.
They also come from squinting, day after day, year after year.
When you face bright light day after day, on the boat, at the beach, driving, walking the dog, your eyes react the same way: you naturally squint.
Do that for years, and those creases become permanent.
Sunglasses reduce glare and brightness so your eyes relax and you eliminate squinting.
3. They protect the eyelids, which sunscreen often misses
Most people avoid putting sunscreen too close to their eyes, and I don’t blame them.
That means the eyelids, one of the most sun-sensitive areas, stay unprotected.
Good sunglasses act like a shield over an area sunscreen can’t safely cover.
An 8 Base Wrap Frame = Better Coverage = Better Anti-Wrinkle Protection
Tiny fashion lenses may look cute, but they don’t cover much, and they don’t stop UV from coming in from the top, bottom, or sides.
That’s why I design Hook Optics frames with:
- Larger lenses
- Wraparound coverage
- Proper temple width
Not because it’s trendy, but because it works.
Wear Your Sunglasses Year-Round
UV exposure doesn’t just happen on sunny days.
It reflects off:
- Water
- Sand
- Snow
- Pavement
- Car dashboards
And it’s still present even when the sky is cloudy or hazy.
If you’re outside in daylight, your skin is getting UV, so your sunglasses should be on.
A Simple Routine Anyone Can Follow
You don’t need a complicated routine to protect your skin around your eyes.
Start with this:
1. Wear sunglasses with 100% UV protection, every day.
2. Choose larger, wraparound sport styles to shield more skin.
3. Add sunscreen and a Hook Optics hat for extra potection.
4. Avoid cheap dark lenses, they can make things worse by letting UV in.
Do just that, and you’ve already done more for your future skin than most anti-aging products can promise. So much can be prevented with the right sunglasses.
Why This Matters to Me
For 47 years, I’ve seen what the sun does to people’s eyes, and their skin.
The crow’s feet, the sunburned lids, the premature aging… it’s all preventable.
That’s why Hook Optics was built the way it is.
Performance. Protection. Real coverage.
And true 100% UVA/UVB defense on every single lens we make.
Because your eyes, and the skin around them, deserve better than cheap sunglasses.
Protect them now, and that future face in the mirror will thank you.
— Bob Pino
Optician, 47 Years
Founder, Hook Optics and An Optical Galleria, llc
