eye care

Three Obvious Advantages of Prescription Sunglasses

There are many advantages of prescription sunglasses you may have heard elsewhere. As a product of high technology, they have so many advantages. But do you know there are three obvious advantages I would like to reclaim.

Unlimited Lens Options

You don't have to sacrifice fashionable style or high-level sports performance if you want prescription sun glasses. At top are Shannon, Jess and Alyssa from the JLO by Jennifer Lopez sunglass collection. Below is Akamai by Maui Jim. All can accept prescription lenses.

Prescription sun glasses are available in all lens materials, including high-index, polycarbonate, regular (CR-39) plastic, Trivex (a lightweight material similar to polycarbonate) and glass. Though glass lenses arguably provide the best optical quality, they are no longer the most popular choice for sunglasses. This is because they are much heavier than lenses made of other materials, and they can shatter easily. However, they are still available if you request them.

Photochromic lenses are very convenient, but they do have a drawback: UV rays are required to activate the tint. Because most car windshields block a significant amount of UV, photochromic lenses usually don't darken very well inside a car.

Another sun wear option is to purchase prescription eyeglass lenses that have a photochromic tint. These lenses are often called "transition lenses" because the leading manufacturer of plastic photochromic lenses is a company called Transitions Optical. Photochromic lenses automatically darken in sunlight and then return to a relatively clear state indoors.

For the ultimate prescription eyewear suitable for all lighting conditions, some opticians recommend eyeglasses with photochromic lenses and a frame with integrated magnetic clip-on sunglasses. The photochromic lenses provide automatic sun-sensitive light adjustments for greater comfort outdoors, and the clip-on sunglasses can be conveniently stored in your vehicle for those bright, sunny days when you need a darker driving lens. (For more information, read our article about photochromic lenses.)

UV and Glare Protection

As with non-prescription sunglasses, your primary concern when buying prescription sunglasses is that the lenses block 100 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays. UV protection is unrelated to the color and density of the tint in sunglass lenses, so you can choose any lens color and darkness you like, as long as your optician verifies that the lenses provide 100 percent UV protection.

For added glare protection from light bouncing back from reflective surfaces (like water, snow, sand and concrete pavement), prescription polarized sunglasses also are available.

Cost of Prescription Sunglasses: Maybe Cheaper Than You Think!

Many optical shops offer special discounts on prescription sunglasses if you purchase them at the same time you buy your regular eyeglasses. Ask your optician for details.

If you are budget-minded, try listing all the features you want in prescription sunglasses and then compare pricing of favorite brands that have just what you need. You could find a bargain.

You can trust their quality and utility since there are so many praises go toward prescription sunglasses. Just have a try you can experience all the advantages mentioned above.