Abstract: An article of protective eye wear, specifically, sunglasses which are self-buoyant is disclosed. The self-buoyant sunglasses include an elongated flexible strap having two free ends provided with fasteners joinable together to form a band which encircles the head. The strap has a cutout section in its lower longitudinal edge wall for receiving an eye shield having the shape of a thin cylindrical plate. A flap formed in the upper edge of the strap folds down behind the strap to sandwich the upper margin of the eye shield, which is fastened to the strap and flap, preferably by strips coated on both sides with a pressure sensitive adhesive. In the preferred embodiment, the strap is made buoyant by fabricating it from a low-density polyethylene foam core, the outer surface of which core has adhered thereto by flame, heat and pressure, a nylon spandex cover.