Meet the Other Phone. Child-safe in minutes.

Meet the Other Phone.
Child-safe in minutes.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Are there any prescription sunglasses that aren't too ugly?

78 replies

BotCrossedHun · 30/04/2023 19:22

I had precription sunnies before, but they looked awful. They were tiny frames like my glasses, and didn't really look like sunglasses properly; the sun came in around the edges, too.

But I have a high near-sighted prescription with astigmatism so the edges are already thicker, plus I need varifocals now too, so even choosing bigger lenses is probably going to look a bit weird too, isn't it, even more thick and non-sunglass like. And frames able to hold those sorts of lenses are just going to look like brown tinted normal glasses I think, ugly as my old ones which I didn't end up wearing much.

Can't decide if it's worth bothering trying to find anything more. Even with prescription sunglasses, I'd have to keep changing back and forth when I went indoors or out. They'd be useful for driving I guess but not sure about much else (at the moment I have the even uglier 'over glasses' for when I really have to and the sun visor isn't enough!! But I don't wear them out of the car...)

That effortless summertime cool that some people have, wearing sunglasses, or having them on their heads, just looks so laid-back and chic. But I think it's just not possible for me, already frumpy at the best of times.

I can't get contact lenses, so are my only options really ugly prescription ones, or just keep on trying to avoid the sun.

Anyone found anything remotely attractive that can hold a strong prescription?

OP posts:
ApolloandDaphne · 30/04/2023 19:52

I've got prescription lenses in a pair of Ray bans.

Reasonableadjustments · 30/04/2023 19:54

opticians.asda.com/Prescription-Glasses/Sunglasses these are the Asda range but you can get sunnies put in ordinary frames too.

The fact they include varifocals in their offers has saved me a fortune (I don't work for them I promise!)

RufustheSpecuIatingreindeer · 30/04/2023 19:54

They look like this…a bit

Are there any prescription sunglasses that aren't too ugly?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

Reasonableadjustments · 30/04/2023 19:55

You can get photochromic that darken through the car windscreen now.

BotCrossedHun · 30/04/2023 19:55

sounds like RayBan is the ones to start looking for! I guess I need to find an optician that does that. All the online things tell me I need to go in person, even specsavers (though at least they are nearby so I can!).

OP posts:
RufustheSpecuIatingreindeer · 30/04/2023 19:55

Love my raybans….

HippyChickMama · 30/04/2023 19:58

I had a lovely pair of oversized Ted Baker prescription sunglasses. They just looked like normal sunglasses, plastic frames, similar to the ones below. I got them from Vision Express a few years ago. Annoyingly, I seem to have lost them so looks like I'll need some new ones this year

Are there any prescription sunglasses that aren't too ugly?
BotCrossedHun · 30/04/2023 20:02

Vision Express is listed as a RayBan dealer near me, so maybe I'll see what they have, and it sounds like they have their own selection too - those look nice, though not sure how they'd look on me.

Asda opticians seem to be about an hour from me, which I guess could be worth a trip if the varifocals are a lot cheaper, as that would be quite helpful for looking at my phone or dashboard. I have paid a lot for good varifocals for my normal glasses to avoid the 'swimmy' feeling, but once I get used to them, hopefully I could wear cheaper ones without that problem.

OP posts:
Oblahdeeoblahdoe · 30/04/2023 20:03

Have a look at Eco glasses with magnetic 'clip on' sunglasses. Independent opticians and Vision Express do them.

BotCrossedHun · 30/04/2023 20:08

hmm, I will ask about them. I have a hard time imagining anything clip on as being any more stylish than my ugly over-glasses, but I'm quite happy to be proved wrong.

OP posts:
Reasonableadjustments · 30/04/2023 20:09

I got an upgrade to my varifocals because I can't hack the cheap ones. It was included in the price. I go an hour to them but they're so much cheaper it's worth it to me.

BarelyLiterate · 30/04/2023 20:12

Talk to your optician & see what they can do. My prescription sunglasses are in genuine RayBan aviator style frames. They look.

BarelyLiterate · 30/04/2023 20:14

That was supposed to be ‘They look 😎’

NormalForNuneaton · 30/04/2023 20:15

I've just bought my first ever prescription sunglasses (BOGOF from Specsavers).

What I would say is try on ones that you wouldn't normally consider as you may be surprised! At first I thought the sunglasses range was very limit so ended up trying on some that I wouldn't normally have entertained but as soon as I put them on I loved them and knew they were the ones.

Beseen22 · 30/04/2023 20:17

My friend is a dispensing opticician who I went to recently (and I was a bit nervous in case she didn't have anything I liked). She turned up with 5 suitcases of stock and I tried on every single pair and she told me honestly when something suited my face shape/how it would look with my lenses. She spent a good 30 minutes measuring them on my face and I've honestly never had a pair of glasses I loved so much. I've lived in contacts with dry eyes and compromised vision for almost 20 years because i found glasses so frumpy until I got a pair of glasses fitted by an expert. If there is anyone local to you self employed doing that job I fully recommend going to them.

Mine are called mint magnetics and I have 2 pairs of magnetic sunglasses which attach to the front of the frame, totally seamlessly. My DH is very jealous at how easy they are when driving to just slap them on top of my specs. My only complaint is with the tint I find it hard to see my phone on bright sun but I can just slip the sunglasses attachment off for a second

BotCrossedHun · 30/04/2023 20:19

The aviator ones look cool, but I suspect I will need the plastic framed sort, as I just measured the edges of my lenses, and they are 7.5mm thick in places, so I think something with a wire frame like that wouldn't work that well.

But I will see what the optician might offer, as they presumably are good at helping people choose normal spectacles, so should have some advice for sunglasses too. It's hard when your prescription means that you are likely to only be able to afford to get one pair for several years, so pressure to get it right, but also to get something that isn't too out-there so that it dates quickly, but also not so boring it just looks like tinted normal glasses and really unstylish.

OP posts:
BotCrossedHun · 30/04/2023 20:21

Your experience sounds great, Beseen. I will see if there is someone doing similar here. I also have dry eye and other issues, so I know I probably should get sunglasses at some point.

OP posts:
MatJas · 30/04/2023 20:26

Apologies I’ve not had time to read the whole thread, I have worn glasses all my life and am now at the varifocal stage, they are so expensive already so 2 pairs would be far too much, I opted for these frames with a grey tint when I’m in the sun, they were £550

Are there any prescription sunglasses that aren't too ugly?
Donotgogentle · 30/04/2023 20:28

Are you anywhere near a Cubitts? They sell the frames and then you can choose a clear or sunglasses lens. Limited but cool range of designs.

I like the fact that there aren’t loads of hidden extras in the charging, but not a particularly cheap option.

Donotgogentle · 30/04/2023 20:30

The price shown is all in, frames and lenses.

toomuchfaster · 30/04/2023 20:31

I have jai kudo frames from Asda with varifocal sunglasses. You don't have to spend a fortune!

Reasonableadjustments · 30/04/2023 20:33

toomuchfaster · 30/04/2023 20:31

I have jai kudo frames from Asda with varifocal sunglasses. You don't have to spend a fortune!

Ha! Someone else who loves them!!

I honestly am so evangelistic about them. I've had great service and they're magnitudes cheaper than anywhere else.

Christmascracker0 · 30/04/2023 20:33

Boots and Vision Express do designer prescription sunnies.

I have been eyeing up some Chanel sunnies from Pret a Voir and bought Gucci ones from Mister Spex before - both are online only.

Mythicalcreatures · 30/04/2023 20:45

I have givenchy ones and I love them, have had them several years and wear them all the time, absolutely worth the money. When I bought them, I was a bit aghast at the price but honestly so worth it and on a cost per wear must be pennies

Swipe left for the next trending thread