Buying prescription sunglasses online...suggestions?

Shannow · Feb 21, 2011

Well, I wear glasses. Its kinda what I do. That whole vision thing. Every year, I tell myself I am going to get prescription sunglasses for myself for the summer, but always put it off, instead opting to jsut buy cheap regular ones and be blind. Well, I have decided NO MORE!

I want to be able to actually see the concerts and shows and festivals and barbeques and gatherings I go to without choosing to either A) be blinded by that harsh and cruel mistess sun (I will control her one day...one day...) or B) be saved from said glare but instead see everything in an extreme blur caused by my own flawed vision.

But enough of such blather. What I have come to you, oh collected hivemind of the Halforum, is but a simple query. I am looking to order a pair of sunglasses online for a decent price (read: cheap if possible). I want to get something with a mirror coat/reflective finish. I am just wondering if anyone here among the myraid masses that comprise this den of iniquity has ordered prescription sunglasses online, and can perhaps point me in the right direction for my needs.

As of now, no, I will not be getting Lasik anytime soon, and no, I will not be getting contacts (things bug the hell out of my eyes). I find the idea of a prescription pair of aviators especially appealing, should anyone have any recomendations on that front as well. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jiarn · Feb 21, 2011

I'm not sure this'll help much but I went to Wal-Mart a while back, at the Eye-Center, and just picked up the small "clip-on" sunglasses that go over your regular glasses. They come off and go on really easily for when I'm out driving and I just keep them in my car. Works wonders.

fade · Feb 21, 2011

A lot of people, including Lifehacker's contributors, have found Zenni to be good and inexpensive: http://www.zennioptical.com/

Shannow · Feb 21, 2011

Jiarn said:
I'm not sure this'll help much but I went to Wal-Mart a while back, at the Eye-Center, and just picked up the small "clip-on" sunglasses that go over your regular glasses. They come off and go on really easily for when I'm out driving and I just keep them in my car. Works wonders.

Not an option. At least, not with the style glasses I wear currently, and also, with what little dignity I have left to me at the moment, heh.

I will check out Zenni. I am hoping to see if i can find reflective/mirror tinting offered, as that is the style I like for regular wear.

Hylian · Feb 21, 2011

fade said:
A lot of people, including Lifehacker's contributors, have found Zenni to be good and inexpensive: http://www.zennioptical.com/

I have used Zenni Optical myself and I was very happy with the overall transaction.

Shannow · Feb 21, 2011

I am checking them out, and I may go that route for a cheap throwaways (damn...12 bucks! That is freaking awesome!).

But I am also looking for something with reflective tint as well though. I know that can add to the price a bit. (I see a sight called sportrx that has a pair on special, that would be 129.95 with silver mirror coating: http://www.sportrx.com/order.asp?pr...lash^op1^1^^^^^&lentypecost=RX+CR+39+-+$79.95 ) I was kinda loking for something with that kind of coating, as it is the style I like, but also in aviators as well as sporting like that. jsut wondering if anyone had any suggestionswhere to look for something like that.

Shannow · Feb 21, 2011

I ordered a cheap pair off zenni for 14 bucks, to see how they turn out. thanks for the suggestion!

@Li3n · Feb 22, 2011

Get some of those plastic lenses that darken in the sun next time... that way you'll always be prepared for when the sun tries to ambush you.

Rovewin · Feb 24, 2011

@Li3n said:
Get some of those plastic lenses that darken in the sun next time... that way you'll always be prepared for when the sun tries to ambush you.

Yeah those are ok but they dont quite beat a dedicated pair of sunglasses. I always hated driving with the ones that darken because if I put my visor down they'd undarken even though the sun was still glaring off the road.

Baerdog · Feb 24, 2011

My biggest problem with the pair of transitions I had was that eventually they stopped darkening or lightening completely after several months. I ended up walking around with a light tint inside and something not quite dark enough outside. It was goofy.

sixpackshaker · Feb 24, 2011

I steered clear of transitions from when they first came out in the '70s. They also changed slower back then and wore out too, not to mention those glasses were ugly...

Shannow · Mar 10, 2011

Bump/update.
Got a pair of Aviators in the mail from zenni yesterday. The 80% grey with a no anti reflective coat makes them perfect. Thank you all for the suggestion...sturdy glasses, deep tint, and my prescription seems perfect. Not too shabby for 15 bucks after shipping. Ill be ordering a second pair of a different style since they are so cheap and still good quality.

Again, thank you all for the help.

sixpackshaker · Mar 11, 2011

I just searched the make and model listed on the inside of my frames, and found them for $38 on eBay. I might switch my lenses my self.