Prescription Sunglasses
Prescription Sunglasses
Prescription sunglasses combine UV protection with your distance, reading, or varifocal prescription — so you don’t have to choose between seeing clearly and protecting your eyes from the sun.
At Ardor Eyewear we make prescription sunglasses in any frame from our designer collections, including Ray-Ban, Oakley, Tom Ford, Persol, Saint Laurent, and many more.
How prescription sunglasses work
The frame stays the same. The difference is in the lens — instead of the standard plain tinted lens, your prescription is ground into a tinted lens material. You can choose:
- Solid tints — grey, brown, or green in light, medium, or dark intensities
- Polarised lenses — reduce glare from water, snow, road surfaces, and car bonnets
- Mirror finishes — cosmetic, with extra glare reduction
- Photochromic (Transitions) — lenses that darken outdoors and lighten indoors
Which tint should I choose?
| Tint colour | Best for |
|---|---|
| Grey | Most natural colour reproduction; ideal for driving and general outdoor wear |
| Brown | Enhances contrast in variable light; good for hiking, golf, and overcast days |
| Green | Balanced colour and contrast; classic Ray-Ban G-15 finish |
Polarised vs non-polarised
Polarised lenses reduce horizontally reflected glare — the kind that bounces off water, wet roads, snow, and bonnets. They’re a noticeable comfort upgrade for driving, fishing, and outdoor sports. The trade-off: some LCD screens (car dashboards, ATM displays, pilot panels) may appear darkened or rainbow-striped.
For most everyday wearers, polarised is worth the upgrade. For pilots and operators of equipment with LCD displays, standard tinted lenses are sometimes preferred.
Driving and prescription sunglasses
UK driving rules require sunglasses with a tint between Category 0 and Category 3. Category 4 lenses (very dark) are not legal for daytime driving. All Ardor solid tints fall within the legal range, including our darkest standard tint.
Frequently asked questions
Can I have a varifocal prescription in sunglasses?
Yes — we offer varifocal prescription sunglasses across all four of our varifocal tiers (Advanced, Elite HD, Supreme HD, Kodak Easy2 Max).
Will my prescription work in any sunglasses frame?
Almost any. Very wraparound sport frames need a special lens design and aren’t suitable for stronger prescriptions — we’ll flag this if you choose a frame that won’t take your prescription.Are polarised sunglasses safe for driving?
Yes, and recommended for most driving conditions. Some modern car dashboards have polarised LCD displays that can appear dark or rainbow-striped through polarised lenses — try them out before relying on them for night driving.
Do I need separate prescription sunglasses if I have Transitions?
Transitions don’t fully darken behind a windscreen because car glass blocks UV. If you drive often, dedicated prescription sunglasses are usually more comfortable.
Can I add my prescription to designer sunglasses I already own?
In some cases yes, depending on the frame condition and lens shape. Contact us with photos and we’ll let you know.
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