How Much Do Prescription Sunglasses Really Cost?

Why do you pick the sunglasses you wear?  Many choose a type of sunglasses based on many reasons beyond style.  People also choose sunglasses to protect their eyes from harmful UV rays which helps prevent macular degeneration and premature vision loss.  A good high-quality pair of prescription sunglasses will protect your eyes and prepare you for the outdoors in any season.

So, how much does a good pair of prescription sunglasses cost and what determines the price?  We will get down to the nitty-gritty about the cost of prescription sunglasses below.

The Scoop On Prescription Sunglasses

Prescription sunglasses are sunglasses with your own corrective prescription built into the lenses. Prescription sunglasses are great if you have a refractive error and can protect your eyes from the sun and glare while enabling you to see clearly.  Prescription sunglasses also play a major role in protecting your eyes from UV rays and help reduce any glares that you would get in regular prescription glasses.

The good news is that you can add your prescription to any fancy pair of sunglasses.  All you need to do is work with eye experts, like Coachella Valley Optometry.  We will swap out those generic lenses with prescription lenses as needed and give you a stylish look that also improves your vision.

How Much Would a Fancy Pair of Prescription Sunglasses Cost?

A standard pair of prescription sunglasses can cost as low as $30 but will really depend on the brand and any additional upgrades to the lenses such as coatings and types of lenses.  But don’t just base your purchase on brand name and price.  A number of factors are also important including, durability, fit, weight and width.  Keep in mind that the price of your glasses will increase based on addons and upgrades.  You need to also make sure the frames are a good fit for your face shape and do not cause any discomfort.

There are many designer brands that offer excellent frames for prescription sunglasses.  Many of these brands we carry at cvopto.com including Gucci, Versace, Prada, Kate Sade and many more.  Our prescription sunglasses are reasonably priced and affordable.  These come in many shapes and styles including ovals, aviators, oversized sunglasses, circle and oval.  Your optometrist will work with you to help recommend a style perfect for you.

What Are Coatings And Why Are They Important?

With the purchase of your new pair of prescription glasses, you will also have the option of choosing different types of coatings.  What are coatings and why are they important?  Coatings are finishes and upgrades for your lenses. Custom coatings include features such as scratch-resistant, reflective, UV protective and more.

Your optometrist can help select the type of coating you may need for your lifestyle and use.  Coatings will help protect your eyes as well as your sunglasses and improve durability and longevity of your prescription sunglasses.

Lens Choice and the Price of Your Prescription Sunglasses

The type of lenses you select for your pair of sunglasses can also affect the price.  Lenses may come in various cuts and materials including mirrored, polarized and tinted lenses.  These types of lenses each have there own unique benefits.  Below will explain the difference so that you can better decide which lens is right for you.

Mirrored Lenses: 

Mirrored lenses are one of the most popular choices for prescription and non prescription sunglasses. They give a unique style to your lenses, and help protect your eyes from UV rays by reflecting light.  Mirrored lenses use a traditional tint, as well as a specialized reflective optical coating, known as a mirror coating. This coating decreased the amount of light that passes through the lenses by 10-60%.  Here are some more benefits that Mirrored Lenses have to offer:

• Improved UV protection:  Mirrored lenses are many times available with up to 100% UV protection. This makes them great for hiking, and prolonged exposure to highly-reflective environments, such as snow and open water.
• Very Durable:  Mirrored lenses tend to use multiple layers of anti-reflective coating and other advanced coatings, making them more durable and scratch-resistant compared to untreated lenses.
• Reduced glare:  If you are sensitive to light, mirrored sunglasses are extremely effective at blocking and reflecting the sun’s rays. This makes them ideal if you are prone to migraines, or have any other condition that makes you very sensitive to UV rays.
• Anonymity – Mirrored lenses are a one-way mirror. You can see out, but others can’t see in. This makes them ideal for those who may wish to remain anonymous or avoid drawing attention to themselves.

Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses contain a laminated filter that allows only vertically oriented light to pass through. This blocks the horizontally oriented light so that glare is almost eliminated.  These are among the most popular choice of sunglasses and will protect your eyes from glare.

Benefits of Polarized Lenses:

• Helps prevent glare
• Improves vision and easier to see through
• Great for driving and outdoor activities
• Outstanding UV protection

Tinted Lenses

Tinted lenses are lenses with a pigmented dye in them. There are a variety of tint colors available, with the most common being brown or gray. The color doesn’t have an effect on how much protection you’re getting, but is more based on personal preference.  These are great for long distance driving as they put less strain on your eyes and enable you to see clearly protecting your eyes from UV rays and reflection.

Total Cost of your Prescription Sunglasses?

To summarize how much your prescription sunglasses will cost, it really deepens on three major factors including brand of sunglasses, lenses and coatings.  You can customize your sunglasses to your need and preference.

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