Do you splurge on subscription sunglasses? - YouLookFab Forum

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Do you splurge on subscription sunglasses?

Liesbeth

Veteran

Hey everyone!

Sunny weather here, and since I'm a full-time wearer of specs I've had to pull out my prescription sunglasses again. Last year my existing pair, that I never was very happy with, had a screw turn loose that will no longer stay in place - probably something bent. I bought a clip-on for my regular specs thinking nicely solved. But the clip-on does not seem to protect my eyes and I'm sensitive to bright summer sun. After some googling I now think the clip-ons are just colored instead of uv filtering.
So I'm thinking of using the money I no longer need to replace and replenish office wear (:p) in wfh times, to buy a nice new pair of uv filtering prescription sunglasses. It will probably cost me a couple hundreds of euros since I have bad eyesight and need extra thinned lenses (does this make sense in English)? It gives me pause, especially with sunglasses being damage prone, constantly being put on and off in outdoors circumstances. But last year and the time before that, my trying to save pennies cost me in the end because I wasn't happy with the result.
So fellow prescription specs wearers, how do you deal with sunnies?

Shopping

31 replies

Latest reply was from Liesbeth

Anonymous

I only use glasses for driving and very rarely movies (when that was a thing). My rx sunnies though, get a lot of use. Driving, hiking, festivals (when that was a thing). I also have cheapo non-rx sunnies for paddleboarding and cycling, cause I don't want to risk losing the $$$ ones!

kkards

Veteran

Yes, 100x yes. I wear prescription glasses (never contacts) and so prescription sunglasses are a must. And i am willing to spend $ on them...yes, they are expensive, but I’ve found that a little attention to them and they last a long time. Make sure you get a good case, and use it. I always store my sunnies in the case when i am not wearing them, that alone has saved them from getting lost and sat on.

Murph11

Veteran

Echoing kkards!

Pat_P

I also spend on prescription sunglasses. Since I have a complicated prescription, they are very expensive. Fortunately my prescription is stable, so I can keep them quite a few years. My challenge is always to find a frame that balances classic and stylish, because I know I will be wearing them for 4-6 years. My last pair lasted 8!

Inge

(website)

I need prescription sunnies too, and bit the bullet two years ago, and am very happy I did. I was worried of losing them (only need glasses to properly see things at a distance, so I'm constantly putting them on and taking them off when going into stores etc.), so am using a chain to wear them like a necklace when they're not on my nose;-)

Stores like Pearle often do promotions this time of year, so that's worth looking out for (not sure if the ones you need will be included, but you never know).

Janet

(website)

Veteran

What kkards said. My prescription sunglasses are absolutely essential to me. In fact, I wear them more than my regular glasses because most of what I need them for (driving, hiking, running, all distance stuff) is outdoors. I don’t need to wear my glasses at home unless I’m watching a movie or TV on our big screen.

For me, they are 100% worth the expense. Two of my current pairs of sunglasses, including my favorite every day ones (in my profile pic) were purchases of vintage frames in Europe, and I got my prescription lenses inserted back here at home. My face is small and many frames here are too large and overwhelming on me — the vintage European styles suit me well.

Bijou

Veteran

Yes! I wear contact lenses all the time, or at least most days but I believe glasses and sunglasses are worth updating and spending money on. I update mine when my prescription changes or at least every 3 years. The last time I updated my sunglasses was 5 years ago.

Runcarla

Veteran

I keep saying I’ll do it, but I never do! My prescription is spendy -
(around $600CA), insurance covers $500 every 2 years, and my prescription hasn’t been stable. I have a pair of oversized sunglasses that can be worn over most regular glasses and are comfortable for driving, but not other activities like sports or outdoor chores. They don’t fit my last 2 cat’s eye frames as well as previous small, square frames.

I was just thinking about what to do with the money I’m saving NOT buying clothes, and was thinking of a splurgy Fall/Winter shop and a special winter dress coat. Sunnies would be within the budget.

Good idea, liesbeth!

Anonymous

Absolutely yes, now regretting all the years I didn't

Even perfect vision should be protected and if you have a prescription your eyes are already challenged. Functional protection is a safety necessity not an extravagance.

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Chiming in to agree with Phoebe. Granted, as a photographer I’m even more acutely aware of eye health and issues than many people, but I also believe sunglasses are important for protecting eyes from harmful UV exposure. Anything that makes them more useful and pleasant to wear is worth it in my book. Eyeglasses are one of those things I do not skimp on.

Minaminu

Veteran

I spend ( or better said invest) lots of money on money on my glasses as it worth on the long run as I replace them every 3 to 4 years. I am hoping my eyesight will stabilise so that I can laser and no long worry. One at a the time!

JAileen

Veteran

I have several pairs of prescription sunglasses. They just have readers at the bottom, and have all the coatings. Yes to a good case. That does make my purse more stuffed, but I don’t want to wreck them, because they’re not cheap. With care, I can use them for years. When they might be at risk (kayaking or canoeing) I use a strap on them.

Anonymous

I used to wear prescription glasses and invested even in progressive lenses in my sunglasses in order to read outside and see road maps in the car. If your eyes are sensitive to light, they are well worth the money. Cost per wear will not be much. Since cataract surgery I no longer need or can use perscrription glasses at all so have been able to expand my sunglasses collection. If your eyes are sensitive to light, especially at night, you may try to find out if you have cataracts. If so, spend the money for the best you can get. The surgery is all done outpatient by laser and is very easy.

suzieq

When I needed glasses I did. After cataract surgery, I only need readers, so I wear regular sunglasses & have a pair of “fit overs” that I wear if I’m in the sun & want to read something. Do they even sell sunglasses that are 1.5 strength readers.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

A billion times over what kkards said. AND for prescription sunnies. I never wear contacts. Only specs, and all the time. They have to be the very best I can afford.

Staysfit

Veteran

Yes, yes, yes, and also when I ran long distances I had a specialized pair for sports.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Thanks everyone, so many good points here. I'll try to come back in the morning to reply to everyone individually.

nemosmom

Veteran

I definitely do. Last summer was my first year to buy a pair and I will never go without them!

pil

Veteran

Guess I have a ‘thing’ about finding myself having to wear sunglasses inside (in case I forgot the regular pair) so that’s why I like to buy glasses with matching clip on or magnet sunglasses.

Anonymous

I’m following with great interest. I’m very conflicted about this issue , as I treat sunglasses as part of my look and have 3-4 expensive pair that I switch up depending on what I’m wearing . Like Carla , I keep thinking I should switch a pair or two to prescription lenses because I need my glasses for driving a lot of the time . But the issue is the cost ! My lenses run around $400 Cdn , without the frame , and my insurance only covers $500 every two years ....and that has to cover my regular glasses too . The whole thing is incredibly expensive . That being said , and someone asked this question above , I use $50 sunglass readers for reading at the pool or on the balcony .

ChrisM

Veteran

I wear progressive glasses all the time. I got a pair of older glasses tinted very dark to serve as sunglasses. They work amazingly well, put a pair of glasses I wasn’t wearing to good use, and the cost was reasonable.

At some point I’ll take another pair of frames and replace the lenses with sunglasses lenses - for the time being my tinted ones work great.

Liesbeth

Veteran

Suntiger, that makes sense if you can manage, which I can't with my eyesight unfortunately ;).
Kkards, sounds sensible. I do dislike the hassle of switching sunnies to regular glasses, especially with a case, but there's just no way around it. Maybe I oughta keep my sunnies on indoors if it's just a short while...
Pat, I AM lucky like you to have pretty stable eyesight, and once I find glasses I love I don't mind wearing them for 4 years or so.
Inge, I don't think I'm ready for a glasses chain ... you are right about the promotions though. I do prefer an independent optician for more reliable service, but I have an appointment with one coming up and they seem to have a sunnies promotion at the moment too!
Janet, wow, you went to great lengths to find good sunnies! That frame IS gorgeous.
Bijou, perhaps even more than the spending it's the knowledge that these specs are so damage prone! Then again, my regular glasses tend to last me a long time.
Carla, I get that it's hard with a unstable prescription. To put things in perspective: despite Belgium's pretty strong healthcare, I only get 40€ refunded every year, not to be accumulated. I'd personally rather have 90% of one pair of glasses paid for every two year; then I'd switch between sunnies and regular. But of course my prescription is stable.
Phoebe, I hadn't even considered that. I was more worried about crow's feet, but of course you're right.
Minaminu, I have considered laser surgery at times in my life - an uncle had it. But it scares me. By now (though I'm only 35) I also think I wouldn't be able to enjoy perfect eyesight for long: genetically speaking I'll probably develop double sight In my forties already.
JAileen, I like to 'travel light' so the stuffed purse thing does bug me. I so love my clip-on for stowing away, but it's just not good at its job.
Joy & Suzie, I did not know cataract surgery also fixed near or farsightedness. Now there's a silver lining if you have it.
Angie, I thought you'd say something like that. And have now heard many good pro arguments convincing me to go for it :).
Staysfit, thank god my laziness prevents my needing dedicated sports glasses ;). But I see how they can be very useful!
Nemosmom: didn't know you wore glasses!
Pil: I'm with you there, especially after a drive I soooo often forget my regular glasses in the car.
Lisa, I also regret not being able to switch up my sunnies style but it comes with the eyesight problem. If your sight isn't AS bad you could have one pair of prescription sunnies that you leave in the car - only other drivers to impress then ;).
Chris, how interesting. Since my current clip-ons fail to protect my eyes I should think colored lenses alone wouldn't help much. But great that it worked for you!

Barbara Diane

Veteran

Could you very carefully use something like a drop of superglue to keep the screw in place? Maybe applied with a toothpick?

Liesbeth

Veteran

Ha, thanks for the creative solution! Thing is, those sunnies I've had for over 5 years and I never liked them that much to begin with, they're also a bit too wide. It's a long story but suffice to say I tried to make use of a discount and got horrible advice from the SA and ended up with those. They're find for avoiding being blinded in the car but to be honest, I can hardly stand them at all anymore.

Anonymous

Yes, of course, and that's a very practical idea. And for the record, I don't wear sunglasses to impress other people, I wear them to please myself

Janet

(website)

Veteran

Just to clarify, when I found both of my vintage sunglasses frames, I wasn’t actively shopping for them. I happened to find them while on vacation both times! One pair was in Amsterdam and ended up being my 50th birthday present; the other in Vienna and wound up as my Christmas present!

SW Ann

Veteran

I have worn prescription lenses since I was 7 years old, so have needed Rx sunglasses all my life. In recent years, my Rx doesn't change as often so I have splurged for multiple pair....having multiple pair of eyeglasses in various styles and colors has brought me a great deal of joy, and now that I live in the southwest, where sun is fierce, been worth every penny!

Lucy

Veteran

Yes, I have worn prescription sunglasses for decades, and would not be without them. I usually replace them every two years, while I update my normal glasses annually. They are expensive - I have a bad script so a pair generally costs about $800 Australian even with insurance. But I see it as a health issue, not a fashion one - in Australia, we need to be wary of eye damage from the sun.
I keep a case on me or in my car at all times - one pair is on my face, and the other in my case. I have never had a problem with breakages but my hubby who is not so careful has either lost or broken a couple of pairs!

Grace

I love my Rx sunglasses. They were totally worth the splurge, because I haven't needed to change them out as often as my regular glasses--I've probably had them for 5 years. I keep bringing them to the optometrist each year to ask if they're safe for driving. The only hassle with them is that it always ties me to some type of crossbody purse on outings so that I can keep my regular glasses with me if we go indoors. Otherwise, the sunglasses stay in their protective case in the car.

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