While glasses are often now a fashion statement so much so that opticians sell lens-less frames to those people with gifted sight but who want to join the fashion trend by walking around with non-prescription lenses, a majority of people would rather not have to guide the arms of a frame past their eyes and behind their ears.
Unfortunately for some, however, wearing spectacles is a necessary and manageable compromise to make in return for a high-definition view of the world. Nevertheless, the growing fashion spectacle surrounding eye candy has facilitated the emergence of a society warm towards the vision aid, mainly because there exists such a wide range of styles that it is almost impossible not to find a frame you like, however indecisive and finicky you may be.
Some people can spend hours finding the right pair of specs to suit their face shape, skin tone, hair color and personality; taking the time to inspect the stock in multiple stores, try on way too many potential options, and leave the person accompanying you wishing they could give you their eyes so that you no longer need to shop in opticians.
Once you’re finally content with a pair of frames, if you want to get a pair of prescription sunglasses as well, then you’re going to need to undergo the whole process of trying-on potential options again. That’s right – back around the local opticians you go, re-open all those closed tabs on your computer, as you choose how to combat blindness from an extra source – the sun – in the summer.
Perhaps it’s best to let the person accompanying you go and grab a coffee (or four) while they wait for you to decide (key survival tip for shopping-haters). But don’t feel bad – after all, you are choosing a major definition of your appearance for what could be a number of years. It would not be too dramatic to liken it to choosing a different shape of nose or deciding to shave all of your hair off.
For all of the options available to normal glasses, there exists a narrower range of prescription sunglasses to choose from. While this could make it easier to decide, it could also complex the decision-making process, since you focus more on the limited availability.
It is always disappointing to find a frame of everyday glasses in a shop easily and then struggle to choose from their prescription sunglasses range. Your annoyance at your eyes’ weakness is exacerbated even more when you admire the immense range of non-prescription shades on offer in supermarkets and beach shops. The much wider range and quality of styles outside opticians leaves you wishing you had normal vision and perhaps leaves you even resorting to wearing contact lenses.
Grievances aside, here is a comprehensive guide to choosing prescription sunglasses that will leave you feeling more optimistic about finding a pair that look good, feel good, and don’t leave you with a burning sensation in your pocket.
Look
The look is probably the most important criteria for anyone looking to buy prescription sunglasses. Indeed, the two-armed vision aid is going to revolutionize your look, just as getting a nose job or dying your hair would.
The major things to consider when choosing prescription sunglasses is how well-suited they are to your face shape, skin tone, hair color, and personality. While the first three are more obvious, the effect on personality needs explaining.
Just like a t-shirt or pair of shoes, prescription sunglasses are a means through which to express one’s personality. Key here is the distinction between loudness and subtleness. Do you want your eye candy to be a showstopper? Or do you want them to be less subtle so as not to take away from other features of your appearance?
For example, a round frame on a round face can be a very loud fashion statement; whereas a round face with a more squared frame is more subtle and less expressive.
Comfort
The look vs comfort debate often results in look being prioritized over comfort to some extent in many aspects of life. Comfort is not something to be compromised when it comes to prescription sunglasses, however.
If they’re uncomfortable on your face in anyway, then you’re going to feel them more and this will just annoy you as you find yourself rearranging them multiple times a day.
It would be worthwhile, therefore, taking extra care in regard to comfort. Try on designs with nose pads and frames without them to see which you find more comfortable.
Price
Having deficient vision is expensive – not only do you have to buy a pair of everyday specs, but also a pair of prescription sunglasses. And you may even buy back-ups for each in anticipation of throwing your first choice eye candy down the toilet or breaking a part of the frame.
If that sounds like you then offers at opticians such as 2-for-1 or buy-one-get-one-half-price are your new friends.
However, this will limit your choice of frames even more, since the offers usually only apply to specific frames. But if you’re not too fussy about design, or you’re favourite frame happens to be in the offer section, then it’s your lucky day.
Once you’re done choosing, then, congratulations – you’ve completed the arduous challenge of finding a pair of prescription sunglasses. Now it’s time to go and save your dedicated shopping friend from the coffee shop before they overdose on caffeine!