How to get started shopping for good quality sunglasses

Chris987

I've been buying very inexpensive sunglasses for years, the kind that break within 6-12 months. I've had to put my eyewear budget into very expensive glasses to handle my severe nearsightedness, plus contact lenses and all that that entails, but this recently changed. Within the past year I had cataract surgery and as a fantastic side benefit my nearsightedness is cured!!! Those of you who deal with serious nearsightedness will understand what a huge miracle this is. I recently went swimming in a lake with friends and could SEE without any eyewear/goggles !!

So, now I want better sunglasses and I have no clue how to get started. Do any of you know of internet sites that review sunglasses brands? I need to think about sizing too, my face is small and I need a small sidepiece length. The opticians from whom I've been buying glasses do not carry much in terms of sunglasses, so I can't start there.

Would love to hear any suggestions for how to get started.

Thanks!

8 years ago

Shopping

25 replies

Latest reply was from UmmLila (Lisa)

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Chris, I had similar surgery two years ago. I didn't have cataracts but had what they call clear lens extraction because my extreme nearsightedness combined with my astigmatism and my increasing need for reading correction -- plus my hard to fit face -- meant they could not really address all my vision needs adequately with either contacts, specs, or a combination of them.

I have no answers for you but I have the same question because traditionally I have done the same thing.

I tried a pair of RayBans earlier this year because once, many years ago, I had a pair that worked -- but I ordered online and the one they sent was not the right size so I sent them back.

Another intended solution -- I had a pair of my regular specs made into sunnies because I liked the frames. (I had another pair made into readers; I don't actually need these any more, technically, but I do find that things can a bit less sharp about a foot to 18 inches away (e.g. computer distance). That worked better as a use of nice frames.

But still no higher quality sunnies.

8 years ago

Liz A.

Veteran

I find that sunglasses are one of those things you have to try on in person at least until you have an idea of what size and shape will work for you. I recently ordered a few pairs based on lens measurements, but I didn't take into account the width of the frames themselves, and they were huge. So it can be tricky. Maybe just stop in at a retail store like Sunglass Hut or I think there are other chain stores.

As for fit, my needs are exactly opposite of yours. I actually cannot wear cheap sunglasses, because they are too small and squeeze my head badly (but I do have a large head). I'm not particular about the brand as long as I like the style.

8 years ago

JAileen

Veteran

I had lasik years ago and now only need readers which I buy at the drugstore for cheap. I get prescription sunglasses with readers at the boutique optician down the street. Finding a pair I liked involved trying everything on. How they feel is everything. The place near us has really fun frames. I have Etnia Barcelona, Oliver Peoples, and Raybans.

8 years ago

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

I'd kick things off with RayBans. That's all I have ever worn in the sunnies dept - and they have prescriptive lenses.

8 years ago

Bonnie

Veteran

I look for comfort in sunglasses because I wear them for hours when hiking outside. If they are too tight, I get headaches and if too loose, they slide down. I found a pair that worked well for me at Fossil and I didn't even know they sold sunnies. I also had the same surgery and it was a miracle for me, too. My eyes needed different correction before and now they are the same.

Fossil

Ashmont Rectangular Sunglasses

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Top Pick

8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Oh, Bonnie reminds me I had a Fossil pair for a while that I liked. They were what I would call mid-priced. Not $10 cheap but not designer price. They weren't fab quality really, though -- just high looks!

8 years ago

Active Member

I've also had friends with small heads buy kids ray bans and put sunglasses lenses in them, so don't discount those as an option too if you have a hard time finding some that fit.

8 years ago

cobalt

Active Member

Have you looked at warbyparker.com? It's very easy to search their offerings by size (as well as color, material, etc). If you have a pair of glasses (sunnies or not) that fit you well, use the measurements printed inside the arm to look for similar-fitting pairs. They don't have many retail locations, but they do offer a limited number of free in-home try-ons.

8 years ago

Keix

Veteran

I have a pair of prescription Maui Jim sunglasses on order from the optometrist--in the retail unmodified form at least, which I tried on multiple times, they are the most comfortable and light glasses I've ever worn.

8 years ago

rachylou

Veteran

Well, I'll say I've had bad luck with designer/department store sunglasses. My best have been prescription and Target...

8 years ago

Chris987

Veteran

Suz it seems if we ever get to meet in person we could have a loooong conversation about eyes, opthamologists, vision, etc. I find that most people with normal vision, including Mr. Chris are not the least bit interested in this topic. I do have my last pair of regular glasses with Kate Spade frames I like a lot...good idea I could consider having them made into sunglasses.

Liz, you are right that sunglasses need to be tried on in person. Sunglasses Hut is a good suggestion as a starting point.

Jaileen you make a good point about sunglasses with readers...I do need reading glasses now and getting them embedded into at least one pair of sunglasses would be a good idea.

Angie I will definitely try RayBans, you and others recommend them highly.

Bonnie I know exactly what you mean about fit and how too tight can equal headaches. Isn't it amazing to be able to see with "naked" eyes !! I didn't know Fossil sold sunglasses. I will check them out but I find that most of the brands where sunglasses are not their primary product don't have much variety in sizing and the standard sizes slide down my nose because the side pieces are too long.

K2 kids ray bans are a good idea, I should probably look at kids' sunglasses overall as one option but the only place I've ever seen thetm was in an LLBean store and they were too sporty for me.

Cobalt I've heard of warbyparker but not really looked at them. Will keep them in mind.

KL I'll put maui jim on my list to look at.

RachyLou I've been buying them at JCPenney, TJMaxx and even Loft....but I have to try on 25 pairs to find one I like and then they don't last long. I feel like I'm always buying placeholders.

I just remembered an article I read a while ago on the "Alterations Needed" blog (a very petite woman) ...she talks about several of the measurements to consider. She refers to ones at Nordstrom that were available on line but the stores near me only carry standard sizes, not the smaller ones so I couldn't go try them on. And then of course there is the whole question of how they look style-wise. In case anyone wants to read it ...
http://www.alterationsneeded.c.....faces.html

Thanks for all the great info!

8 years ago

Alexandra

(website)

Veteran

I have a small head and most frames are much too large for me. My MO is to try on every pair that looks even halfway small enough until I find what I need. Sometimes that means visiting multiple stores. When I find the right pair, I buy it, I don't even ask how much it is because by then, I really don't care. I want the sunglasses. They're usually spendy but they last me years and years. I take good care of them. I currently have two pairs - one is Maui Jim, the other Kate Spade. I finally got lucky after a year of looking, so I bought them both. I figure I won't have to do this again for at least ten years.

8 years ago

Style Fan

Veteran

I had laser surgery in 2001. My eye sight was not terrible but I was tired of dealing with glasses and contact lenses. I buy my sunnies at the Sunglass Hut. I make sure they have that special coating (Polarizing?) which helps for driving. I have Hugo Boss and D & G right now. I had a pair of Maui Jims for years that I really liked.

8 years ago

Anonymous

I ordered mine and paid about $40 if I remember right. They fit and are perfect for my needs. I wear them every day.

8 years ago

kerry

Veteran

Maui Jims. Best investment I ever made. Good looking, super lightweight. I bought mine at Sunglasses Hut but I'm in Canada.

8 years ago

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Chris, we could indeed have a long heart to heart on this and other subjects.

I meant to add that the one drawback of my new repurposed specs was that they are really not big enough for sunglasses, i.e. the shape is a bit narrow. So I find I do not reach for them often in this format and I might have them turned into readers instead. But if the lenses are wide you can try. My optician obviously thought it would work or she wouldn't have bothered but I don't think she was thinking straight!

8 years ago

MomOfThree1980

Active Member

Try looking online. I know Fendi, Vera Bradley, Coach, etc all have them. I usually get mine from my eye doctor (prescription lenses) but they have all of those brands on display for me to pick from.

8 years ago

Chris987

Veteran

Alexandra, sounds familiar!

Style Fan thansk for the reminder on the anti-glare coating.

BC what brand did you get?

Thanks Kerry, another vote for Maui Jim.

Suz, excellent point about the size of the frames. The lovely Kate Spade prescription ones I no longer wear ave are a bit too small for sunnies but too big for readers at least for the type where you want to be able to look up without magnification.

Thanks MomofThree.

8 years ago

Jodi J Jacobsen

Active Member

It looks very interesting thread. I think you should strive for costly shades from marked online stores.

7 years ago

lozz_oz

Veteran

I can vouch for both my pairs of classic wayfarer RayBans (non prescription) - matte black + other pair tortoiseshell.
Not sure if you can still get any scratched or damaged lenses replaced like back in the '80's.
Once you fork out $ for good quality sunglasses its surprising how much more care you take with them.

7 years ago

cindysmith

Veteran

I know luxxotica gets a lot of hate (and they've earned a fair share of it) but I am team Revo all the way. I feel like Revo offers me the best protection that money can buy for my eyes. My second choice is Ray Ban because they have so many classic styles that either never truly go out of fashion or cycle through as trendy really frequently.

For a website that would be a good place to try out different styles, I suggest Zenni optical. I've ordered so many glasses from them over the last decade or so since I discovered them, and probably haven't spent two paid or Ray Ban aviators worth of money because they have so many inexpensive, fun styles that you could order a pair of sunnies to go with every possible mood. You will need your PD # (pupillary distance, which is the distance between the pupils of your eyes) for anything with prescription lenses, which you can ask your regular optician to give you. Even if you don't need the prescription lenses, that PD number will be helpful as it does help me know right off whether or not a pair of glasses will be too small on my head; my PD is 63 and some glasses are too small to accommodate that pupillary distance in a prescription which means that they'd probably be too small as sunnies too.

They have so many frames for under $20 that it is ridiculous, and it's under $10 to add a dark tint to them to make them sunnies. Zennioptical [dot] com

7 years ago

jackfreedo

(website)

Member

Things to Consider When Buying Sunglasses
1. Ultraviolet Protection
2. Polarized Lens Protection
3. Lens Tints
4. Polycarbonate Lenses versus Other Materials
5. Fashion

7 years ago

Anonymous

I lost my sunglasses, turned around and reordered the same exact pair. Since I wear them daily, I didn't want to wait until the ones I lost reappear. I also have a pair of Fitovers that I used to wear over my eyeglasses. I only need readers now, but did ask my eye doctor for a prescription for driving, as my vision is not quite perfect. Considering how bad my eyes were before cataract surgery, though, 20/25 vision isn't bad. For reading, I use those cheap readers from the supermarket - 1.5 strength. I'm not complaining!

7 years ago

Beth

Veteran

I'll add my vote for Maui Jim and Kate Spade. Also, NAS often has some nice sunnies at very good prices.

7 years ago

UmmLila (Lisa)

Veteran

I am a fan of Krewe sunglasses. But I think whatever brand you choose, you must be prepared to try a few pairs and return others till you get the best look for you.

7 years ago

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