| Picture yourself driving a car or lying on a beach | | | | Today, prescription lenses are usually made from |
| blanket on a hot, sunny day. If you had less than | | | | polycarbonate, high-index, and CR-39 (regular |
| 20/20 vision and if this scenario was set decades | | | | plastic). There is even something called a |
| ago, chances are you would be rummaging in | | | | photochromic lens. This kind of lens is dark in |
| your bag for tinted prescription lenses to clip on | | | | bright sunlight, but turns lighter and more |
| to your eye glasses. Fast-forward to the 21st | | | | translucent when sunlight is reduced - for instance, |
| century where things are done differently. Sure, | | | | when the wearer goes indoors. It may be very |
| clip-ons are still widely available, but they're hardly | | | | convenient because the user doesn't have to |
| the only choice anymore. Today, with prescription | | | | remove his or her corrective sunglasses to put on |
| sunglasses, people with less than perfect vision | | | | regular glasses. But remember that some |
| can look cool but not compromise their need for | | | | photochromic lenses are not designed for |
| visual clarity. | | | | ultraviolet (UV) ray protection. And one of the |
| There are many types of prescription sunglasses | | | | prerequisites of good quality sunglasses, |
| to suit any individual's taste and style. Those who | | | | corrective or otherwise, is that they should be at |
| prefer clip-ons may consider fitovers, which are | | | | least 90 percent effective in blocking UVA and |
| separate sun glasses designed to "fit over" | | | | UVB rays. |
| existing prescription eyewear. Then there are | | | | People with more complicated vision problems |
| devices called "adapters." Adapters are | | | | than astigmatism or myopia - such as presbyopia |
| prescription lenses designed to snap on the bridge | | | | - can also benefit from the wide variety of |
| of a pair of sunglasses - thereby transforming | | | | prescription sunglasses out there today. Those |
| them into corrective sunglasses. And of course, | | | | with presbyopic vision oftentimes need bifocals or |
| there are prescription sunglasses whose lenses | | | | progressive lenses, which are available in sunglass |
| are ground to the user's specifications. Usually, the | | | | version. Bifocal sunglasses that are ready to wear |
| frame and prescription lenses are purchased from | | | | (if you already know your prescription) are |
| the same manufacturer. Famous brands offer this | | | | available from brands such as Action Tropics. |
| service - among them Oakley and Costa del Mar. | | | | Another innovation in optical wear that are of |
| Corrective sunglasses are also a necessity for a | | | | great benefit to those with vision problems has to |
| number of people who engage in sports. If you've | | | | do with polarized lenses. This type of lens can be |
| ever watched a professional basketball game | | | | used for corrective sunglasses. The main benefit |
| (such as those held by the NBA), you've probably | | | | of polarized sunglasses is that they block the glare |
| seen some of the players wearing snug goggles - | | | | that results from sunlight bouncing on surfaces like |
| these are pretty much like prescription sunglasses, | | | | water, pavement, and snow. They filter the light |
| but the latter are geared for outdoor use. So, | | | | waves that cause the glare, but allow other types |
| corrective sunglasses are very popular among | | | | of light wave in, so the wearer gets to enjoy |
| athletes such as bikers, race car drivers, snow | | | | sights under a bright sun naturally, but without |
| sports enthusiasts, and many others. And as can | | | | having to strain the eyes by squinting against |
| be expected, there are numerous popular styles, | | | | sunlight. |
| such as Ray-Ban's classic aviator style and the | | | | Before going out to purchase a pair of |
| snug, wrap-around style. Prescription lenses used | | | | prescription sunglasses, it would be best to visit an |
| to be difficult to fit into wrap-around shades; the | | | | eye expert to determine the grade of glasses |
| curve of the frame would require the lenses to | | | | you need. If you wear contact lenses, remember |
| be bent, thus distorting images. But quite a | | | | that your contact lens grade may be different |
| number of manufacturers nowadays are able to | | | | from your spectacles grade. Remember also that |
| work around this difficulty and provide corrective | | | | certain types of frames may not be suitable for |
| lenses for trendy wrap-around shades. | | | | you - either because they are not suited to your |
| Lenses are available in a wide variety of materials. | | | | face, or because the lenses you need are too |
| Even though glass used to be the material of | | | | thick to fit into the frame you want. In any case, |
| choice because of the optics quality it provides, | | | | an optician or another eye professional can give |
| many people are eschewing it now because of its | | | | you advice and help you choose the right pair of |
| weight and its propensity to break when hit. | | | | prescription sunglasses for you. |