Protect yourself from the sun and correct your vision with the same pair of glasses
Do you need prescription glasses to drive, practice running or just walk down the street but the sunlight bothers you?
The ideal solution for you is a pair of prescription sunglasses. With them you will improve your vision while protecting yourself from harmful UV rays. But what do you have to take into account to add prescription lenses to your sunglasses?
1. The shape of the glasses. Is it possible to add prescription lenses to any model of sunglasses?
2. The user's need. Do prescription sunglasses work for all visual problems?
3. The UV filter. What is the optimal level of protection?
4. Can prescription sunglasses be polarized?
The process of adding prescription lenses to sunglasses is similar to that of normal prescription glasses. You can see more details by clicking here.
Is it possible to add prescription lenses to any model of sunglasses?
Unfortunately, not all models of sunglasses can have prescription lenses. The typical curved sports glasses, for example, can not have prescription lenses since their shape would cause annoying aberrations for the user.
Neither can screen glasses have prescription lenses. Keep in mind that this type of models have a single lens, with which it would be impossible to add the ideal prescription for each eye, calculate the centering, etc.
Glasses with special shapes, such as Dior Soreal, do not have the option to add prescription lenses.
So, what should be taken into account to know if sunglasses can have prescription lenses? Ideally, a model of medium size, that does not present a pronounced curvature and, of course, that is approved and acquired in a certified optician’s shops. The glasses acquired in bazaars or in non-specialized stores are very difficult to handle due to the poor quality of their frames and most of them would break when trying to fit the prescription lenses.
VISUAL-TIP: Avoid using sunglasses that are not approved. Poor quality glasses not only do not protect you from the sun's rays, but can seriously damage your visual health.
Is it possible to add prescription lenses for any visual problems?
At least initially, it is possible to add prescription lenses to correct all common visual problems (astigmatism, hyperopia, myopia). You can even have progressive sunglasses, something very useful if, for example, you like to read outdoors.
What is the ideal filter to protect the eyes from UV rays?
We are increasingly aware of the importance of protecting the skin from exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays. In the same way, it is fundamental to protect our eyes and the best way to do it is with lenses with the appropriate UV filter.
The protection levels of UV filters are measured in categories:
- Category 0 (88% transmittance): It is the lowest level of protection, insufficient to guarantee the protection of the eyes.
- Category 1 (20% transmittance): It is a low level of protection, insufficient to use in summer or in areas of the south where the sun strikes with special force. It is enough for Nordic countries or central Europe.
- Category 2 (6.5% transmittance): It is a good protection, although it does not block 100% of UV rays.
- Category 3 (0% transmittance): It is the maximum protection, capable of blocking 100% of UV rays. They are usually used for high mountain sports and at sea.
Can prescription sunglasses be polarized?
The peculiarity of polarized lenses is that, in addition to protecting from the sun, they block the reflections that occur on horizontal surfaces such as asphalt or the surface of the sea.
To filter these horizontal reflections, the lenses are polarized in verticals by superimposing a thin sheet that neutralizes the reflections. Fortunately, this sheet can be combined with any UV filter and with all kinds of prescription lenses and even progressive lenses, so if you want your prescription sunglasses for driving, skiing or sailing, it is recommended that you use them polarized to block the annoying reflections of the asphalt, snow or water.
VISUAL-TRICK: How can you check if some lenses are polarized? First, you should look for a small "P" engraved on one of the lenses or inside one of the arms. If you can not find it, take the glasses and put them in front of a digital screen (of a computer, a mobile phone ...). Place it horizontally, as if you were wearing them, and then turn it upright. If it is polarized, you will see how when turning the glasses, the image that appears on the screen is blocked and stops being seen or it gets darkened a lot through the lenses.
Next: Advantages and disadvantages of prescription sunglasses