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Prescription sunglasses reduce squinting and allow you to see clearly in bright sunlight. They protect your eyes from irritants such as dust, wind, and air pollutants.

Most importantly, prescription sunglasses offer protection from harmful ultraviolet (UV) radiation, which can cause cataracts, macular degeneration, and various eye cancers.

When selecting prescription sunglasses, select lenses that offer UV400 protection, which block 100 percent of UV rays. Choose frames that provide plenty of coverage, such as oversized or wraparound glasses. Keep in mind that darker lenses don’t equate to more UV protection.

Read on to learn more about what to look for when buying prescription sunglasses and take a look at our selection of the best online retailers.

We’ve compiled a list of the best online retailers for prescription sunglasses. We considered the following criteria:

  • 100 percent UV protection. The sunglasses are labeled as UV400, which means they offer 100 percent UV protection.
  • Variety. We looked for retailers with a wide selection of frames in different styles, fits, and lens finish options.
  • Available prescription ranges. We included retailers that can accommodate multifocal lenses, strong, or complicated prescriptions.
  • Customer feedback. We chose retailers with mostly positive customer reviews that report satisfaction related to quality, customer service, and the overall buying experience.
  • Return policy. The retailers on this list clearly state the company’s return policy and how to go about making a return.

Pricing guide

We selected retailers to suit a variety of budgets. The price of prescription sunglasses on this list are indicated as follows:

  • $ = under $75
  • $$ = $75–$150
  • $$$ = over $150

Prescription sunglasses with 100 percent UV protection are available at a range of prices. You can expect to pay anywhere from $50 up to several hundred dollars, depending on the type of frames, lenses, and prescription.

Some vision insurance plans cover prescription sunglasses. To find out more, contact your insurance company or the optical retailer.

Best value

EyeBuyDirect

Price: $

Best features: EyeBuyDirect offers an assortment of high-quality, affordable prescription sunglasses from budget and premium brands. The company also has an in-house line called RFLKT. EyeBuyDirect can fill strong prescriptions and, according to customer reviews, provides excellent customer service.

What to know: EyeBuyDirect’s 14-day return policy is on the short side.

Best selection

Zenni Optical

Price: $

Best features: Zenni Optical offers a vast selection of inexpensive frames that you can turn into prescription sunglasses. The company also offers polarized clip-ons for most frames. Zenni’s user-friendly website features a face shape guide, a 3-D try-on tool, and a ruler that measures the distance between your eyes.

What to know: Zenni Optical doesn’t accept insurance and isn’t the best option if you have a strong prescription. Zenni charges $4.95 for shipping, which takes 2 to 3 weeks.

Best return policy

Coastal

Price: $

Best features: Coastal is an online eyewear retailer offering an assortment of prescription sunglasses at varying price points. Sunglasses are available with solid, gradient, and mirror tinted lenses. The company also offers clip-on sunglasses with polarized, prescription, and anti-glare lenses.

Coastal carries designer brands and an in-house line from Derek Cardigan. The website features a virtual try-on tool so you can get a feel for how the frames will look before you buy.

Coastal offers a 60-day return policy for glasses and sunglasses.

What to know: Coastal doesn’t accept vision insurance, but you can submit your receipt to your insurance provider for reimbursement.

Liingo

Price: $$$

Best features: Liingo Eyewear designs a selection of stylish, polarized prescription sunglasses and eyeglass frames that are available as sunglasses. The website features a virtual try-on feature and a fit feature that allows you to find frames similar to your current glasses.

If your sunglasses require adjustments, visit a local optical shop and Liingo will reimburse you up to $25. The company provides a 60-day return policy.

What to know: Liingo doesn’t have a ton of sunglasses on offer, which is ideal for people who feel overwhelmed by websites with hundreds of options. You can use the Liingo Rx Reader app to scan your current glasses and get your prescription details. However, the app doesn’t read strong prescriptions.

Best for coupons and offers

GlassesUSA.com

Price: $

Best features: GlassesUSA.com provides a huge selection of prescription sunglasses from popular designers at a range of prices. The GlassesUSA.com website lists current offers and coupons. You’ll receive a 65 percent coupon code if you subscribe to the company’s newsletter.

The website also has a virtual try-on feature and blog posts covering topics such as designer collections, how to choose the best frames, and tips for buying glasses online.

What to know: GlassesUSA.com offers a 14-day return policy, so you’ll need to make up your mind quickly. The company is an in-network and out-of-network provider for some vision insurance providers.

Best try-on options

Warby Parker

Price: $$$

Best features: Warby Parker designs a range of prescription sunglasses that are available online and in retail stores. The sunglasses feature polarized lenses with an anti-scratch coating.

The company makes it easy to select frames, offering an online quiz that narrows down your choice based on your style and face shape. Warby Parker also provides a free home try-on service that allows you to try on up to 5 demo frames for 5 days. Free shipping is provided for orders, returns, and the try-on service.

What to know: Warby Parker isn’t the best choice if you have a strong or complicated prescription. While the frames are stylish, they’re often more expensive than similar products. You can use the virtual try-on feature on the Warby Parker app to select frames. However, the app is only available for iPhone X and newer models.

Best sport sunglasses

SportRx

Price: $$

Best features: SportRx carries more than 40 brands and offers a selection of prescription sunglasses designed for activities like cycling, running, and baseball. The company provides free shipping and a generous 45-day return policy.

What to know: Some people find that the ordering process is complicated due to the wide variety of options for lens types and coatings. SportRx prices tend to be higher than some of the competition.

Best clip-on sunglasses

JINS Switch

Price: $$$

Best features: JINS Eyewear designs a wide variety of refined, contemporary frames that you can turn into prescription sunglasses. The JINS Switch collection offers magnetic clip-on sunglasses that snap onto prescription eyeglasses. The clip-on shades have an anti-reflective coating.

The JINS website features a virtual try-on tool so you can test out different frames. The company offers free shipping and a 30-day return policy. JINS also has a fantastic customer service reputation.

What to know: JINS Eyewear can’t directly bill your insurance company. However, you can submit a claim to your insurance provider for reimbursement.

To narrow down your search for prescription sunglasses, consider the following:

  • 100 percent UV protection. When buying online, read the product description carefully. If you’re buying in person, look for a manufacturing tag that lists UV protection.
  • Size. Larger frames provide more coverage, which can reduce sun damage to your eyes and the surrounding skin. Choose oversized or wraparound sunglasses.
  • Polarized lenses. Polarized lenses don’t offer more UV protection, but they do improve vision clarity and reduce light glare, reflection, and eyestrain. Alternatives to polarized lenses include anti-reflective, mirrored, and photochromic lenses.
  • Cost. Sunglasses are available at all price points and while you don’t have to spend a fortune, it may be worth investing in a quality product that will last longer. If you want to buy multiple pairs and test out new styles, you may prefer cheaper options.
  • Company reputation. Read online reviews to get a feel for customer satisfaction regarding product quality, customer service, and shipping and return policies.

Choosing prescription sunglasses can be an enjoyable experience that allows you to experiment with different shapes, styles, and lens tints.

However, the most important feature of prescription sunglasses is 100 percent UV protection. This protects your eyes and the surrounding skin from harmful UV rays that can cause eye and vision damage.

Use this guide to get a feel for some of the highlights and drawbacks of popular online retailers. To make your decision, consider your budget, the type of sunglasses you prefer, and the company’s reputation.