MARQUETTE -- Whether you're out on the slopes, spending a day on your snowmobile, or just running errands around town, doctors say shades aren't just for summer.

"Protective eyewear is very important in the wintertime because the amount of ultraviolet light reflected can cause damage to the eyes," says Dr. Steve Morris, an optometrist in Marquette.

Dr. Morris showed me what can happen if you don't wear shades, and it isn't pretty.

Long-term damage, such as macular degeneration and cataracts, is caused by exposure to UV rays.  You can also get more short-term damage, such as corneal irritation.

"Exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the cornea will feel like welders flash, where it feels like the eye is dry and gritty, and you're very light sensitive," Dr. Morris says.

And don't let cloudy days fool you...even when it's overcast, UV rays can still come down through the clouds, which is why you should still put on your sunglasses.

Here are a few things to look for when buying a pair of shades.

A 100 percent UV protection label, a polarization feature, which absorbs glare from snow, and if you'll be taking part in winter sports, be sure to get a pair with a wrap-around feature.  That will protect against wind and sun exposure coming in from all sides.

"The better quality glasses are going to be optically correct so you'll have a radius in the lens to protect your eye against the wind, things like that," says Todd King of Down Wind Sports in Marquette.

And, another bonus of wearing shades--it can actually improve your vision in inclement weather so you can see better.