Sunglasses

I’m looking to pick up some high-quality sunglasses ( 😎 ) that actually offer solid UV protection.
On the flip side, I really don't want to drop a fortune just because a brand name is printed on the side (like Ray-Ban or whatever else is trendy...). It always feels like I'm paying half my money for actual quality and the other half just for the logo.

So, how can I tell if a pair of shades is genuinely well-made—meaning they provide real protection—without breaking the bank? Where’s the best place to shop? What specific labels should I be looking for on the frame, and what else should I keep an eye out for? I'd appreciate any advice or tips you guys can throw my way.

Thanks! 🙂

Watch the UVA and UVB absorption levels. It needs to be north of 95%. If you can't find the data, don't bother buying it.

My brother actually picked up some no-name sunglasses about two weeks ago while he was out in France. He got them for next to nothing—they were on clearance—but they actually came with a full certification for both lens quality and UV absorption. So, what you’re looking for definitely exists out there; the real challenge is just figuring out how to track down the decent ones without getting ripped off...

stormylynx14, what if they don't specifically list UVA and UVB protection, but just say "UV"? Are those kinds of glasses actually sketchy?

Come on, I know you guys have more to say, you’re just being lazy about typing it all out.
Pleeaaase!!!

Daniel Chavez14 said:stormylynx14, what if they don't specify UVA and UVB separately, just UV? Are those glasses sketchy?

If that's the case, they're likely referring to UVA rays.

Warby Parker states their certified glasses carry the UV 400 or CE mark. They suggest a light absorption rate between 68% and 75%.

Some brands actually guarantee decent protection—take Ray-Ban for full frames, or Eagle Eye if you're just looking at lenses. Even with prescription glasses, the latter absorbs 99% of UVA and UVB.

And finally, I find myself wondering—where on earth am I actually supposed to go to pick these up?

Hey everyone,

First off, sorry if I’m posting in the wrong sub, but this one felt like
the best fit for what's on my mind. Basically, I need to get myself some
new shades because wearing my regular prescription glasses out in the glare is just asking for trouble.
So, I wanted to pick your brains—what kind of frames should I look for if I want them to actually last?
I'm thinking about both standard prescription lenses and sunglasses. Also, what's the move on tinting?
Should I go with permanent tints or stick to photochromic lenses? And honestly, does anyone know where
I can get these done without getting absolutely robbed? Looking at the prices in some of the local
eyewear shops is giving me a massive headache... which makes me wonder if my eyesight
is already slipping away from the stress! :-)

---
Where the hell did I leave my wallet?!

So now I’m juggling two different pairs... my standard prescription glasses and then my prescription sunglasses.

Before this, I was using those photochromic lenses. Honestly? They were a nightmare. Every time I stepped indoors, I had to wait around for them to finally "clear up." Plus, after a while, the headaches started hitting me. My eye doctor actually suggested those lenses might be the culprit.
Once I switched out the lenses, the headaches just vanished.
And let's be real, they looked terrible... that weird grayish tint on the glass was just awful. 🙄
Now I have both pairs... they take up way too much room in my bag, but they're worth it. 🙂

I'm living in Chicago, so whatever prices you guys are seeing over there probably don't mean much to me.

Hmm... personally, I opt for prescription lenses with photochromic coatings. And let me tell you—they are an absolute game-changer!
I’ve been rocking them for about six or seven years now, and honestly, I haven't had a single complaint. It used to be such a struggle whenever I stepped out into the bright sunlight and felt completely blinded—or, conversely, when I’d duck into a building and have to wait for my eyes to adjust to the dim lighting... it was quite jarring! With these, the light levels always feel perfectly balanced, and I don't even have to bother lugging around a separate pair of sunglasses.

So, I’m currently rocking two pairs—my standard prescription glasses and my prescription sunglasses.

Same here.

I usually only break out the first pair when I have to pull an all-nighter at work—otherwise, I'm pretty much always forgetting them on my nightstand. 🙄

I actually had my sunglasses permanently tinted—did it at a boutique in Chicago—so yeah, it definitely isn't cheap, you weren't kidding. 😉

I’ve been rocking photochromic lenses for a few years now and they’re fantastic. I honestly forget I’m even wearing them most of the time. They react perfectly to lighting changes, and the best part? No more annoying fogging when you step from the cold outdoors into a heated building. They clear up quickly once you head indoors, and they darken up just as fast when you hit the sunlight. My tip for making them look sharp: pick out a slightly darker frame—preferably plastic. It makes them look just like high-end designer sunglasses once the tint kicks in.

Man, I actually went and asked around on some alternative health forums too, and honestly? It’s the exact same deal as here—just a total split, maybe 50-50. But if I'm being real, I'm leaning way more toward the tinted ones... I mostly need them for my commute since I’m driving out east in the morning and then heading back west in the afternoon, so the glare is killer. Besides, I already have a pair specifically for walking around. Still haven't quite made up my mind though...

What’s the going rate for permanent tinting? I'm wondering if I can actually get them pitch black. Also, is it possible to apply that tint to all my frames—specifically those oversized, thick-rimmed glasses?

I wear glasses, plus I have prescription sunglasses too. Honestly, if you’ve got the budget, just go for polarized lenses. I have a pair myself that I picked up about three years ago while visiting England at a high-end optical boutique—one of those professional spots that handles both eye exams and sales. I think the whole package cost me around $250. That covered the exam, the first frame and lenses, a second free frame, and the upgrade to polarized.
Polarized lenses are absolute game-changers for driving. They kill all that glare since they cut through light from every angle, so you don't get that annoying sensation where the sun feels like it's hitting your pupils even through dark tint. Highly recommend...😁

_Definitely_ grab the anti-reflective coating.
Personally, I’ve always leaned toward photochromic lenses over fixed tints... it just comes down to preference, I guess.

I went through a million different options, honestly, and finally just pulled the trigger on some green-tinted 😎 (around 75%, if my memory serves me right). In the meantime, I tried out some non-prescription photochromic lenses and man, what a massive letdown. They barely even darken unless you're staring directly at the sun—like when I was driving my car... totally useless 😕

cirano said:I went through a million different ideas before finally settling on a green tint 😎 (around 75%, if my math is right!). I actually tried out some non-prescription photochromic lenses recently and man, was I disappointed. They barely even darkened at all when I was driving because there wasn't direct sunlight hitting them! 😕

So, it sounds like the move is to go with tinted, anti-reflective, polarized lenses with full UV protection. Is it actually possible to get all those features in one pair?

Where's the best spot in NYC to get that kind of setup made? And where can I find the best frames to match that combo?
I feel like finding prescription frames that actually look good with tinted lenses might be a bit of a hunt.

Go ahead and browse through some local optical shops and get some quotes. But I don't really get why you think they won't "work"... like, in terms of how you look? The thing is, non-prescription lenses can be any shape they want because they aren't tied to correcting a specific focal point within a sphere. It gives designers total freedom to mess around with all kinds of frame styles. With prescription glasses, you're pretty much stuck because of the lens geometry requirements... so if you actually want a specific look, my advice is to just pick out the frames you love and have the lenses custom-cut to fit them.

vividotter97 said:Maybe hit up a few local shops like LensCrafters or Warby Parker and just see what they say about pricing! But honestly, I'm not totally following why you think they won't "work" for your look? Since non-prescription lenses don't have to be perfectly spherical, designers basically have total freedom to get super creative with all sorts of frame shapes. When you're dealing with prescription lenses, things get tricky because the shape of the lens dictates everything, so my best advice would be to pick out some cool frames you actually love and then just have the specific tinted lenses custom-fitted inside them.

I was just saying that finding prescription frames that actually play nice with tinted lenses feels like a mission, mostly because it seems like those trendy colored frames are usually designed specifically to go with clear glass.

Since I can't really make it out for a stroll through downtown right now, I figured I'd just ask here! And hey, it’s not even about the money for me—I just really want to find a killer selection of frames that'll look amazing with tinted lenses.