Sunglasses at Opticare Opticians
Good sunglasses protect your eyes as well as finishing your look. Our opticians will help you find a pair that suits your face, your prescription and the way you spend time outdoors, from prescription and polarised lenses to designer frames, all fitted and adjusted in-store.
Protecting your eyes from UV
UV light doesn’t only affect your skin. Damage to your eyes builds up over a lifetime, usually without symptoms, and is linked to cataracts, retinal conditions and skin cancers on the delicate skin around the eyelids. A day on snow or water without protection can even cause photokeratitis, a painful sunburn of the eye’s surface.
Every pair we recommend meets the UV400 standard, blocking 99 to 100% of UVA and UVB rays, whatever the style, tint or price. That matters because a dark lens without a UV filter can be worse than none: your pupils widen behind it and let in more unfiltered UV.
UV is strongest in summer but is there all year, especially around snow and water. Bright light and glare can also aggravate other eye conditions, so sunglasses are worth wearing well beyond the summer months.
Are your current sunglasses protecting you?
Not every pair of dark lenses offers real UV protection. A few signs worth checking:
- Look for the UV400 or 100% UV protection label. Tint alone tells you nothing about UV filtering.
- Be cautious with very cheap or souvenir-shop sunglasses. They’re not always tested to a proper standard, even when labelled.
- Scratched or heavily worn lenses can lose some of their protective coating over time.
- If in doubt, ask us to check them. Our team can test the UV protection of any pair of sunglasses, prescription or not, during a visit.
Sunglasses lenses we offer
Choose from polarised, photochromic and tinted lenses, with or without your prescription. Here’s how they compare.
Polarised lenses
Cut out glare reflected off water, roads and snow. Ideal for driving, fishing and days near water, and always paired with a full UV400 filter.
Photochromic lenses
Darken automatically in bright light and clear again indoors, so one pair works all day. A good alternative to separate sunglasses if you’re often in and out.
Tinted lenses
Grey and brown tints for bright sun, amber for better contrast on overcast days. The tint sets the look and comfort; the UV filter underneath does the protecting.
Prescription sunglasses
If you wear glasses, you don’t have to choose between clear vision and UV protection. We offer prescription sunglasses with a full UV400 tint in the same frame styles as your everyday glasses, with polarised and photochromic options too.
They’re a popular alternative to wearing sunglasses over contact lenses, and save you squinting through bright light with the wrong prescription, which adds eye strain on top of UV exposure.
- Your prescription with full UV400 protection
- Polarised and photochromic options
- The same frame styles as your everyday glasses
- Sharper vision outdoors, with less squinting
- An alternative to sunglasses over contact lenses
Find a style that suits you
Beyond UV protection and lens type, the right sunglasses come down to fit, face shape and how they hold up to daily wear. Our team will help you try on frames and adjust the fit in-store.
Sunglasses myths and facts
A higher price doesn’t guarantee better UV protection, and a darker lens isn’t automatically safer. The UV400 rating is what counts.
Choosing sunglasses for summer
Fit, coverage and frame materials for active use: the practical side of picking a pair you’ll actually wear.
Frame trends
Frame styles move quickly. See the shapes, colours and details we’re seeing most in our practices.
Sunglasses for children
A child’s eye lens is clearer than an adult’s and lets more UV reach the retina, and children spend more time outdoors. Look for the same UV400 standard in a snug, comfortable frame they’ll keep wearing; wraparound styles help stop light creeping in at the edges.
Caring for your sunglasses
Scratches and residue wear down both the optics and the protective coatings. Clean lenses with a microfibre cloth and lens spray rather than tissue or clothing, and keep them in a case when you’re not wearing them.
Featured brand: Oakley
Oakley is one of our most popular sunglasses brands, built as much for performance as for style. Try the range in-store, with or without your prescription.
Built for sport
From cycling and running to everyday outdoor use, Oakley’s lens and frame technology is designed for conditions where a standard pair would fall short.
More than just style
What sets Oakley lenses apart, beyond the logo: a look at the technology behind the brand.
Sunglasses questions
What UV rating should I look for in sunglasses?
Look for sunglasses labelled UV400, which block 99 to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Check for it whatever the style, tint or price: a dark lens with no UV filter can be worse than no sunglasses at all, because your pupils widen in the reduced light and let in more unfiltered UV.
Do polarised lenses offer more UV protection?
Not on their own. Polarised lenses cut out horizontal glare reflected off water, roads and snow, which makes them ideal for driving, fishing and other glare-heavy activities. The UV protection comes from a separate UV400 filter, which they’re almost always paired with.
Can I get prescription sunglasses?
Yes. Prescription sunglasses combine your prescription with a full UV400 tint, in the same frame styles and lens options as regular sunglasses, including polarised and photochromic lenses.
Do children need UV-protective sunglasses too?
Yes, arguably more so. A child’s eye lens is clearer and lets in more UV light while it’s still developing, so more reaches the retina. Children also tend to spend more time outdoors, so proper UV protection matters just as much for them as for adults.
How should I care for my sunglasses?
Clean them with a microfibre cloth and lens spray rather than tissue or clothing, and store them in a case when you’re not wearing them. Scratches and residue can wear down both the optical quality and the protective coatings over time.
Can you check whether my sunglasses block UV?
Find your perfect pair in-store
Our team can talk you through UV protection, lens options and frame fit in person. If you need a prescription, we’ll make sure your sunglasses are just as sharp as your everyday glasses.