About Prescription Sunglasses
Although very often we tend to consider eyewear as a form of decoration, sunglasses are first and foremost a protection of the delicate eye system from the impact of the ultraviolets. Special vision problems prevent lots of people from being able to wear sunglasses, which makes them even more exposed to various other eye health problems. Hyperopia, myopia and astigmatism are just a few examples here. The solution for such cases is to be found in prescription sunglasses designed to match exactly the same features of the regular glasses but with ultraviolet protection. The UVB rays cause sunburn while the UVA rays get absorbed by the human eye lens.
Prescription sunglasses represent a combination of regular glasses with a dark lens design. There are different kinds of lenses used for prescription sunglasses, such as gradient lenses, anti-reflective lenses, blue blockers, polarized lenses and photochromic lenses. Prescription sunglasses are designed only according to the ophthalmologist’s recommendations, and sometimes design is not possible because of the specificity of the eye problems. Some health condition such as eye surgery may require total prevention of sun exposure. This is why most often doctors prescribe sunglasses with 99 or 100% protection against UVA and UVB.
Some prescription sunglasses rely on a wraparound design that prevents the UV rays from entering from the sides. Here, the choice of the frame is everything because it should be large enough to allow for such protection. As for the glare, not only designer prescription sunglasses but most sunglasses in general have a special anti-reflective coating that ensures superior reflexion of the light. Mirror-coated lenses are sometimes used for the same purpose of reducing glare. One special mention here is that the design of the prescription glasses also depends on the stage of the eye health condition.
For instance, people who suffer from advanced myopia may require very thick lenses, which could be incompatible with most of the frames. The presence of two or more health problems at the same time could also become an obstacle for the design of prescription sunglasses. Solutions may be available, but only a specialist will be able to tell you which is the best for you. Very few companies can provide such designs for low prices; the more complex the prescription sunglasses, the higher the price.
