Best Prescription Sunglasses 2024
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Jenny McCoy
Contributor
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Becky Eaton
Contributor
Opinions expressed by Forbes Contributors are their own.
Glasses-wearers can’t just snag a pair of sunnies from a drugstore rack; they have to be corrective, too. Based on extensive research, we determined GlassesUSA to have the best prescription sunglasses overall because it offers a wide variety of options from top brands, accepts insurance and allows you to renew your prescription online. For particularly stylish frames, we recommend Warby Parker, which designs all of its fashion-forward shades in-house.
The best prescription sunglasses are easy to order online and protect your eyes for a range of … [ ] outdoor activities.
Illustration: Forbes / Photo: Retailers
It’s relatively easy to order a pair online: All you need is your current eyeglasses prescription–no extra doctor’s visit required. Even better, every one of our hand-selected retailers accepts HSA and FSA funds, reducing your out-of-pocket costs. Below, find the nine best places to buy prescription sunglasses, whether you prioritize sports performance, comfort or fast delivery.
Best Prescription Sunglasses Glasses Overall: GlassesUSA
Best Stylish Prescription Sunglasses: Warby Parker
Best Value Prescription Sunglasses Glasses: Zenni
Best Prescription Sunglasses For Sports: Roka
Best Prescription Sunglasses For Driving: EyeBuyDirect
Best Polarized Prescription Sunglasses: Smith Optics
Most Comfortable Prescription Sunglasses: FramesDirect
Best Prescription Sunglasses For Fast Delivery: Overnight Glasses
Best Sustainable Prescription Sunglasses: Diff
GlassesUSA
Ray-Ban New Wayfarer
Turnaround time: 9 to 16 business days | Return policy: 14 days for full refund or 100% store credit | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
Pros:
Excellent customer reviews Vast supply of quality frames Virtual try-ons and virtual renewals, plus accepts insurance
Cons:
Limited return period
Customers love GlassesUSA. With a rating of 4.5 stars out of 5 based on more than 50,000 reviews via TrustPilot, this company has earned its reputation as a leader for online eyewear. (GlassesUSA also earned the top spot on our lists of the best prescription glasses online and the best reading glasses.) You can shop more than 1,300 options for prescription sunglasses from well-known brands, such as RayBan, Oakley, Coach and Armani. The company also accepts insurance as well as HSA/FSA funds, and provides virtual try-ons and virtual prescription renewals.
Warby Parker
Warby Parker Brimmer Sunglasses
Turnaround time: 7 to 10 business days | Return policy: 30 days to return or exchange | Insurance accepted: Yes, as well as HSA/FSA | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes (residents of certain states ineligible); can also book an in-person eye exam
Pros:
Home try-on option lets you test 5 pairs for free Virtual try-on, virtual prescription renewal and accepts insurance Generous return policy
Cons:
Some negative reviews criticizing customer service
Some might argue the best prescription sunglasses are the ones you’ll actually wear. Warby Parker provides a sizable selection of stylish, fashion-forward shades–from cat-eye frames to aviators to oversized squared-off round lenses–that will protect your eyes while elevating your overall aesthetic. Another big perk: Its home try-on program lets you test five different pairs for free, so you can decide on a pair with confidence. Other notable benefits include the fact that its prescription lenses are made from polycarbonate, a durable, impact-resistant plastic, and that it accepts insurance, provide virtual try-ons and offer virtual prescription renewals.
Zenni
Zenni Round Glasses
Turnaround time: About two weeks | Return policy: 14 days for refund (excluding shipping costs) or 30 days for store credit | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No
Pros:
Wide array of affordable options Virtual try-on option Hundreds of thousands of positive reviews
Cons:
Only in-house brand styles
You don’t need to pay designer prices for well-made prescription shades. Zenni’s products are high-quality (with a Trust Pilot rating of 4.6 stars based on 140,000 reviews) and budget-friendly. Frames for prescription sunglasses start as low as $7 and you can browse more than 1,100 different options, including speciality shades for kids. If you need your glasses quickly, its fast frame delivery service ships in two to three business days for an added cost of $19.
ROKA
Roka Lockhart Prescription Sunglasses
Turnaround time: 4 to 15 business days | Return policy: Returns within 30 days with a $20 restocking fee | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: Yes
Pros:
Lightweight frames Shop sport-specific options Offers virtual prescription renewal
Cons:
Expensive No refunds
Austin, Texas-based Roka specializes in premium-quality eyewear for high-performance athletes, and on that front, it delivers. Its products are lightweight (a plus for endurance athletes) and the frames are constructed with patented grips to ensure they stay in place as you move. Filter its Rx shades by five different sport types, including running, cycling, triathlon, golf and outdoor adventure.
Eyebuydirect.com
Good Vibrations Aviator Black Sunglasses
Turnaround time: 7 to 14 business days | Return policy: 14 days | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No
Pros:
Affordable; prescription sunglasses frames start around $36 Option to add polarized frame for minimal cost Positive customer reviews
Cons:
Does not accept insurance
The best prescription sunglasses for driving reduce glare and fit comfortably on your face so they’re not a distraction. EyeBuyDirect offers shades that tick all these boxes. For an extra fee, its prescription shades can be polarized in either a basic tint ($40 fee) or mirrored tint ($69 fee), minimizing ultra strong light glares and hazy vision to enhance your eyesight on the road. You can shop a wide range of styles–from classic oval and rectangle-shaped to more eccentric heart-shaped and geometric frames–and customers rave about its products: EyeBuyDirect has a 4.4 rating out of 5 based on nearly 20,000 TrustPilot reviews.
Smith
Smith Lowdown Slim 2 RX
Turnaround time: 7 to 9 business days | Return policy: 30 days for full refund, minus $6 return fee | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted, as long as HSA/FSA account is connected to major credit card | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No
Pros:
Six different colored polarized lens options Generous return policy compared to other brands Relatively quick turnaround time
Cons:
Expensive No virtual try-on
Polarized shades are a great option for any wearer, as they help reduce glare and improve vision quality, but they’re especially recommended for folks who spend time near highly-reflective surfaces like water, sand and snow. Smith offers polarized prescription sunglasses in six different color options, including Gray-Green, Black, Brown, Blue Mirror, Green Mirror and Bronze Mirror. As a bonus, its polarized lenses include a trademarked technology (ChromaPop) designed to enhance the contrast and natural color you see so that the details in your surrounding environment stand out. The one con: The hefty price. Prescription options start at $278.
FramesDirect.com
Ray-Ban RB4115 Prescription Sunglasses
Turnaround time: 11 to 14 business days | Return policy: 30 days for returns or exchanges; in most cases, $9 shipping charge deducted from return | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No
Pros:
Affordable prices Dozens of wraparound styles Relatively long window for returns and exchanges
Cons:
Some negative reviews complaining of poor customer service No virtual try-on
The most comfortable prescription sunglasses are the ones that are fitted well to your face. Generally speaking, wraparound styles can up your chances of a pleasant fit by offering a stay-in-place grip, blocking wind and debris from getting in your eyes and providing optimal protection from damaging UV rays. FramesDirect has a robust selection of wraparound prescription sunglasses in 58 different styles, giving you plenty of styles to choose from. Plus, prices start at $49 for frames, so they’re affordable, too.
Overnight Glasses
Capri Online Prescription Sunglasses
Turnaround time: 1 to 10 business days | Return policy: 7 days for full refunds; no refunds on rush orders where incorrect size was ordered | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: Yes | Virtual Rx renewal: No
Pros:
Overnight delivery service Virtual try-on option Raved-about customer service
Cons:
Limited return policy
When you need prescription shades in a rush, Overnight Glasses has an overnight delivery program that promises to deliver most orders within 24 hours or less. Of course, there’s an added cost for the expedited service–$30 for the pair above–and the company warns that extra time is usually needed for more complicated sunglasses, such as multifocal lenses and rimless frames. Nonetheless, customers praise Overnight Glasses for its responsive customer service team and the company has a 4.4 out of 5 star rating, based on nearly 1,500 Google reviews.
Diff Eyewear
Diff Bella Optical Glasses
Turnaround time: Up to 2 weeks, not including shipment time | Return policy: 14 days for exchanges; 30 days for refund or exchanges for non-prescription items | Insurance accepted: No, but HSA/FSA accepted | Virtual try-on: No | Virtual Rx renewal: No
Pros:
Overnight delivery service Made with sustainable materials With every purchase, a pair of glasses gets donated
Cons:
Prescription glasses can only be exchanged, not returned Slower turnaround time
Just as its name suggests, Diff Eyewear does things differently. The brand not only sells handmade glasses made of ethically-sourced materials, it also has a social impact mission of helping others to see. For every pair of glasses purchased, someone in need gets a pair donated, along with access to surgery, medicine or other vision aid. The selection of prescription sunglass frames might be smaller than others on this list, but its give-back model and high-quality materials make this brand stand out.
Why Trust Forbes Vetted
We’ve covered a lot of eyewear topics at Forbes Vetted, from the best blue light-blocking glasses to the best polarized sunglasses.
At Forbes Vetted, many of us are glasses-wearers ourselves; we understand the importance of a high-quality, well-fitting pair. We’ve had the opportunity to test out several of the retailers above for our roundup of the best prescription glasses online, including GlassesUSA and Warby Parker.
Co-authors of this story, Becky Eaton and Jenny McCoy, are regular Forbes Vetted contributors who have covered men’s and women’s accessories, apparel and eyewear. Specifically, Eaton authored our guide to the best reading glasses.
We sought expert advice from Yuna Rapoport, MD, MPH, board-certified ophthalmologist and founder of Manhattan Eye in New York City.
This story was updated by fashion updates writer Claire Epting in November 2024. All its iterations are overseen by deputy editor Kari Molvar, a certified style expert who leads Forbes Vetted’s fashion vertical.
How We Chose The Best Prescription Sunglasses
When compiling our winners, we first considered the initial factors that go into a purchasing decision: These include style selection, return policy and whether or not a brand accepts HSA and FSA funds.
We also identified companies with nice-to-have features, including virtual try-ons, online prescription renewal and the option to utilize your insurance plan.
Budget, too, was considered. We included retailers that sell luxury sunglasses upwards of $250 as well as wallet-friendly options starting at $20.
Customer ratings were taken into account; each sunglasses style we featured has earned an average score of at least 4 out of 5 stars from buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How Much Should A Pair Of Prescription Sunglasses Cost?
The price of prescription sunglasses varies from retailer to retailer, but expect to pay at least $100 for a high-quality, durable pair. However, it’s entirely possible to pick up a solid pair for less: Our top value pick, Zenni, offers prescription sunglasses for as low as $20. Polarization and additional lens coatings cost extra, so make sure to factor that into your budget.
Can I Use Insurance To Buy Prescription Sunglasses?
In some cases, yes. A few retailers, including GlassesUSA and Warby Parker, accept most major insurance plans for prescription sunglasses purchases, as well as HSA and FSA funds. While the other six companies on this list don’t currently accept insurance, they all accept HSA and FSA funds as a form of payment, lowering out-of-pocket costs for you.
What Is The Best Lens Type For Prescription Sunglasses?
The best type of lens for your prescription sunglasses is determined by your needs and where you plan on wearing your glasses the most. If you spend a lot of time near highly reflective surfaces such as sand, snow or water, we recommend choosing glasses with polarized lenses. Frequent drivers, on the other hand, may want to consider a gradient lens. Those looking for increased vision quality should opt for brown or green lenses, which improve contrast.
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