If you regularly wear eyeglasses, you may know how hard it can be to find the balance between being able to see and protecting your eyes from the sun. Luckily, you can put the days of stacking sunglasses on top of your regular eyeglasses or just squinting behind you!
Yes, you can have prescription lenses put into sunglasses. This means now you can get the benefits of wearing prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses at the same time.
The Benefits of Prescription Sunglasses
So what makes prescription sunglasses a better choice than non-prescription sunglasses or untinted prescription glasses?
Clear vision outside: By opting for prescription sunglasses you can make it easier to go into sunny areas and still see clearly, without sacrificing sun protection for your eyes. This can make activities like driving and playing sports safer and more enjoyable.
Convenience: By opting for prescription sunglasses, you don’t have to try to uncomfortably stack sunglasses on top of your eyeglasses. You can also keep your prescription sunglasses in a convenient place like your car, so you never forget them.
Protection from UV rays: Prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB rays from the sun can lead to serious eye damage and eye diseases like cataracts and eye cancer. If you find that you don’t wear sunglasses often because of the inconvenience, you are exposing your eyes to these damaging rays.
Reducing eye strain and squinting: Spending time in the sun without sunglasses can lead to squinting to keep the sun out of your eyes. Excessive squinting and sun exposure can lead to eye strain, which can be painful, and can make wrinkles form earlier.
What Kinds of Prescription Sunglasses Can I Get?
The lenses in prescription sunglasses can come with a variety of different features depending on what your needs are. The lens features that are right for you will vary based on your prescription and your sunglasses needs. The different features can be grouped into 2 categories.
- Lens features
- Tint features
1. Lens Features
- Single-vision lenses: These are lenses that correct vision for only 1 distance. Single-vision lenses are common for individuals who only have one visual problem that needs to be corrected, like nearsightedness or farsightedness.
- Bifocal lenses: Bifocal lenses are lenses that have 2 prescriptions in them, 1 at the top of the lens and 1 at the bottom. Bifocal lenses are commonly used by individuals who struggle with seeing things that are close up and at a distance, and those with presbyopia.
- Progressive lenses: Progressive lenses work similarly to bifocal lenses but have a smooth transition between the 2 different prescription areas in the glasses, rather than a visible line, like bifocals have.
2. Tint Features
- Transition lenses: Transition lenses are eyeglasses lenses that will change from clear to dark when exposed to the sun. Transition lenses are great for individuals who may not want to switch between multiple pairs of glasses throughout the day, but still want some sun protection.
- Polarized lenses: Polarized lenses reduce the amount of sun rays that can reach your eyes, which reduces sun glare. These lenses are great for reducing eye strain when outdoors for a long time. Polarized lenses also can help you see more clearly outside by increasing contrast between objects.
Choosing the Right Prescription Sunglasses
The kinds of features you select for your prescription sunglasses should be based on your personal visual and lifestyle needs. Here are some factors to consider when getting your prescription sunglasses:
Get an eye exam. If you want to enjoy the benefits of prescription lenses in your sunglasses, it is important to make sure that you have the right prescription. By getting an eye exam, you have a better chance of getting the right lenses for your eyes, which helps you get the most out of your glasses.
Choose frames that fit your face. You won’t wear your sunglasses if you don’t feel good in them! By trying on different frames and finding the ones that fit your face the best, you can find a fit that looks good and functions well. The experienced opticians at your eye doctor’s office are a great resource for finding the right style and fit.
Pick quality lenses and coatings. If you want to make sure your sunglasses will last, it’s a good idea to opt for high-quality lenses and coatings. You can even add anti-scratch coatings on your glasses to make sure they can keep up with you and your daily activities.
Consider your lifestyle. One sunglasses style does not fit all. When picking out your lenses and sunglasses frames, consider what you’ll be using them for. Polarized glasses can affect how well you can see some car displays. If you are using your sunglasses mostly for driving you may want to opt out of polarized lenses. If you’re planning on using the glasses for sports, you may want to consider a sporty frame or different color options for the polarization on the lenses.
Where Can I Get Prescription Sunglasses?
The best place to get prescription sunglasses is from your optometrist. Your optometrist knows your visual needs and can make recommendations on lens options and frames custom to you. The other benefit of going to your optometrist for sunglasses is that they can adjust your sunglasses frames for your face for a comfortable fit.
To start the process of finding your perfect prescription sunglasses, you can book an appointment with us at L’occhio Eyecare-Eyestyle today! Our friendly and knowledgeable team is happy to assist you in updating your prescription and finding a fashionable pair of sunglasses for every member of your family.
