How Much Do (and Should) Prescription Sunglasses Cost?

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Beyond prescription eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses have become increasingly popular. I mean, how convenient is it to be able to wear your sunglasses at an outdoor concert and clearly see your favorite band perform? Or doing your work outside, seeing your computer perfectly while enjoying the sun.

Are Prescription Sunglasses Worth It?

In terms of sheer convenience and practicality, they are indeed. After all, besides shielding your eyes from UV rays, they let you read books, magazines, text messages and emails.

How Much Do Prescription Sunglasses Cost?

According to a survey from All About Vision in Irvine, TX, the average cost of prescription sunglasses ranges from $150 and $500.

Why the difference of hundreds of dollars in how much are prescription sunglasses? Several factors affect the lens and frame costs of prescription sunglasses). For example, the more customized you make your sunglasses frames or lenses, the more expensive your prescription shades will be.

Several factors determine the cost of sunglasses frames:

BRAND: Some brand names carry more clout with consumers; those that have been around longer and served more customers tend to be trusted more. Luxury brands often extend the aura to their sunglasses, so longevity, brand loyalty and a sense of luxury will cost you. That said, you can get just as good quality sunglasses from non-luxury brands, at a far more affordable price.

POPULARITY: Trendy sunglass frame styles (such as those featured on Instagram) are more in demand. Sunglasses from celebrities, such as Fenty by Rihanna, create a lot of buzz. Inevitably, designer sunglasses always command higher price tags.

SIZE: Because adult frames are larger than children’s frames, they require additional materials. More metal, plastic or other frame materials add up to higher prices.

MATERIAL: The material of the frames also plays a role in cost. Plastic (acetate) frames are usually less expensive than metal frames, unless a certain style of plastic frames has become particularly popular or comes from a designer brand. Unusual frame materials are also more expensive.

At the same time, lenses can also increase the cost of sunglasses. In fact, sunglass lenses can be customized as much as frames—and perhaps even more so, depending on the intensity of a prescription and individual vision needs.

TINT: The color of the lenses can impact the price. Yellow- and orange-tinted sunglasses are typically better at blocking blue light—an added feature that can increase both the demand and cost.

MATERIAL: From aspheric and polarised lenses and everything in between, sunglass lenses have more to offer than merely serving as a shaded window to the rest of the world. Some of these lens options carry a higher price tag.

UV PROTECTION: The more you allow the sun to access your eyes, the more UV rays can cause damage. UV protection level can play a role in the cost of sunglasses, but inexpensive pairs with UV 400 protection are also available.

LENS TREATMENTS: Why are sunglasses at drugstore so inexpensive? They’re simply not built to last. Having scratch-resistant, anti-glare or polarised lens treatments inevitably generates additional costs.

In addition, consumers often wonder if they can add prescription lenses to existing sunglasses. The short answer is no, since not all frames are equipped to fit prescription sunglass lenses. If the frames you’re considering aren’t optical grade, they don’t contain the necessary grooves that hold prescription lenses in place.

Best Sunglasses for Prescriptions

Don’t let pricey luxury brand sunglasses get you down. Blenders Eyewear has a wide variety of sick prescription sunglasses at affordable prices, with superb quality that will last.