Prescription sunglasses provide several advantages over regular sunglasses or contact lenses. They are more convenient than trying to attach clip-on lenses to regular glasses or having to switch between glasses and contacts depending on the situation. Prescription sunglasses also offer UV protection and a full range of frame styles and lens options. Unlike contact lenses, they can be safely worn for activities like swimming where contacts pose an infection risk. Prescription sunglasses come with the same variety of styles, designers, and lens treatments like polarization for glare reduction as regular sunglasses.

1. Are prescription sunglasses a good idea?
You may sometimes find yourself driving down the road, sun shining in
your eyes, as you search in vain for those clip-on or magnetically
attached sun lenses that came with your prescription sunglasses.
At times like these, you might find that prescription sunglasses are
much more convenient and more than worth the additional
investment.

2. Benefit of prescription sunglasses
over contact lens
Contact lens wearers, too, may find that wearing
prescription sunglasses is sometimes a far more practical
alternative outdoors. For example, you may not want to
wear your contact lenses on the beach where your eyes
can become itchy and watery as you battle the effects of
sand, sun, wind and water.

3. Even the non-prescription sunglasses you wear over your contact
lenses may not provide enough protection. Also, wearing your contact
lenses while swimming is a bad idea because of the possibility of
potentially serious eye infections caused by microorganisms in the
water.

4. More Advantages Of Prescription
Sunglasses
If you have a vision problem that requires corrective prescription eyewear, you
have several choices when it comes to sunglasses. Prescription sunglasses are
available for virtually any lens prescription, including bifocal and progressive
lens options if you are presbyopia and need lenses to help you read that magazine
or book at the pool.

5. Prescription Sunglasses Come In
Many Frame Styles
• The styling of prescription sunglass frames is nearly the same as with non-
prescription sunglasses. Almost all of the same fashion, designer and celebrity
eyewear options apply.
• Availability is limited when it comes to certain wraparound sunglasses that curve
around the head. Prescription sunglasses made with extreme curves typically
distort vision.
• However, several manufacturers offer wraparound prescription sunglasses with
less extreme curves. Typically these are available in a limited prescription range,
so you would need to discuss options with an optician.

6. 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.