No other accessory delivers both form and function better than sunglasses do. They’re perfect for polishing any look, whether you’re aiming for beach-chic or red carpet-ready. At the same time, they’re crucial for protecting your eyes from the sun. That’s why our post Why it Pays to Invest in the Best Sunglasses argues that purchasing a pair that offers UV 400 protection, polarised lenses, and distortion-reducing tints is crucial for preventing premature ageing and the development of serious eye conditions like cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. But what if you wear glasses?
Countless Brits wear glasses for vision correction. One in four people in the UK have myopia or short-sightedness alone. Other common refractive errors include hyperopia (far-sightedness) and astigmatism. Though corrective glasses can provide visual clarity and help prevent these conditions from worsening, they can make it harder for wearers to don sunglasses.
Fortunately, the eyewear industry knows about these challenges and offers solutions that can help you benefit from both clear eyesight and sun protection. If you wear corrective prescription glasses yourself and are looking to accessorise with vision, you can now avail of these sunglasses options:
Clip-on sunglasses
Want a cheap, easy, yet effective way to get the functionality of both sunnies and glasses without having to buy new frames? Try clip-on sunglasses. These go right on top of your usual glasses to immediately provide the necessary visual clarity and UV protection. Clip-ons can attach to your frames with magnets, or hinges that you can flip up. Since they’re only comprised of enough frame material to accommodate UV-blocking lenses, clip-ons are also usually more affordable than buying a separate pair of sunglasses. The only thing you’ll need to worry about is ensuring you get them in the right size to perfectly cover your prescription lenses. You can usually get clip-ons specifically designed for your glasses from the same brand you bought them from. Dedicated retailers like Clip On Sunglasses UK also offer them in various sizes and shapes so you can find the closest match for your eyewear.
Prescription sunglasses
If you want an invisible solution to wearing sunglasses as a glasses wearer, adding your prescription to regular sunnies is the way to go. These can provide clear and protected eyesight regardless of whether you have a single-vision or multifocal prescription, making them great for investing in long-term eye protection. As exemplified by Glasses Direct’s prescription sunglasses collection, you can get them by selecting the brand and frame design of your choice, then paying a small fee to add your prescription to the lenses. However, you do have to consider how much vision correction you need. If you have a stronger prescription and require thicker lenses, for example, limit your options to frames thick enough to accommodate them, like those on Scout’s Giunone model. Those with milder cases of refractive errors can more easily use thinner metallic frame models like the London Retro Concord.
Photochromic lenses
Don’t want to switch between two kinds of eyewear? Replace your regular glasses lenses with photochromic ones. These stay transparent while you’re indoors, then darken in a minute or less once exposed to the sun’s UV rays. Despite the fact that they start out clear, they don’t compromise on UV protection: Online Opticians UK confirms they shield the same percentage of rays as regular sunglasses do. For the best effect, consider getting the latest photochromic lenses to benefit from additional features. Market leader Transitions’ photochromic lens offerings—particularly its most recent release, Gen S lenses—illustrate that, as they’re designed to change more quickly from clear to dark and back. This feature gets around traditional photochromic lens challenges, such as how they take longer to transition in colder temperatures. They also provide greater contrast perception and sensitivity, bringing their functionality closer to that of regular sunglasses. Many popular eyewear brands, like Ray-Ban and Persol, offer the option to add Transitions brand lenses to their prescription glasses, exemplifying how photochromic lenses are easily accessible.
