When the first people come into the shop and ask if it is possible to get sunglasses made with prescription lenses, we know that summer isn’t far away. The simple answer to this question is “yes”. OK, there are a few restrictions, but in general terms it is possible to make prescription sunglasses for most glasses wearers. They can be done in single vision, bifocal and even progressive powered lenses. So what qualifies as a pair of prescription sunglasses then? I know there is some debate over this. Many consider any prescription lenses that are tinted to a degree darker than, say, 50% as being sunglass lenses. Personally I tend to disagree with this.

I think there is a big difference between tinted prescription lenses and prescription sunglasses. Tinted prescription glasses are exactly that, a prescription lens with a tint applied. They usually also look like a prescription lens that has been tinted, I mean, everyone knows they are prescription lenses that have had a tint applied. OK, they usually give the wearer some degree of protection in bright light conditions, but they don’t necessarily protect the user from harmful UV light. The other problem and this may only be a cosmetic one, is that most actually “look” like tinted prescription lenses. They often look less than attractive than “normal sunglasses”, especially when a standard prescription frame is chosen.

Prescription sunglasses on the other hand feel and look like sunglasses and, appart from providing the user with decent glare protection, they also provide good UV protection. Now at this point I should probably say that the colour of the lenses itself doesn’t provide the UV protection. Some clear lenses provide great UV protection without being tinted at all. Of course if they are not tinted they won’t give the user any glare protection. This means that good prescription sunglasses must give the user great UV protection as well as the required glare protection.

When chosing frames for prescription sunglasses it is important that you chose frames that are big enough to provide you with good cover. Small John Lennon type sunglasses may look cool, but they certainly will not give good protection from the sun. Common sense really.

Many glasses wearers, when deciding to purchase prescription sunglasses think they can only choose frames for the standard range of prescription frames. Although there are some prescription frames that are suitable for prescription sunglasses, many people find it hard to imagine what those frames look like with a dark lens in them. For example, you may choose that nice, rimless frame that you really like because of the way it feels and even looks light. Can you imagine what these frames look like with dark lenses? Sure, they will still be nice and comfortable to wear, but that light look is gone, because the dark lenses somehow eliminate that light look. You get the idea?

That is why we sometimes suggest to use actual sunglasses frames and have your optician replace your lenses with prescription sunglass lenses in your power. That way you can see and feel what the sunglasses actually look like with dark lenses. And, in most cases, if done correctly, they will still look like sunglasses when they have your prescription lenses in them. In a later post I will go into detail on what to look for when using sunglasses frames for prescription sunglasses.

If you are choosing your frames from the standard range of prescription frames rather than from the sunglasses range, don’t be afraid of a bold look. Once your dark lenses have been fitted, the boldness will disappear and the unit will come together as a nice piece.