If you love a great-looking pair of sunglasses but also need prescription lenses, you might wonder if those sleek sunglasses frames you adore can double as your everyday glasses.
At Northern Lights Eyecare, we offer a wide range of eyewear options, from frames and lenses to sports, safety, and specialty eyewear. But we also understand that sometimes, people have an existing favourite pair of frames they don’t want to part with.
The short answer is yes, you can use sunglasses frames for prescription lenses! But before you get started, be sure to talk to your optometrist. It’s important that the frames and lenses fit properly.
Benefits of Prescription Eyewear
If you rely on corrective lenses, prescription glasses can help with a range of vision issues such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and age-related changes like presbyopia.
Benefits of prescription eyewear include:
- Vision improvement: Eyeglasses have been used for centuries to help people see. While they don’t fix the underlying vision problem, you can experience clearer and crisper vision with eyeglasses.
- Multifunctional: If you have more than one eye condition, such as myopia and astigmatism, lenses can be made to correct more than one condition at the same time.
- Comfort: If you have an eye condition like myopia or hyperopia, you may experience other health symptoms too. For example, children in need of prescription eyewear may show signs like squinting, headaches, eye strain, and trouble with reading at school. Prescription eyewear may help ease these symptoms.
- Style: Today, frames and lenses come in many shapes and styles, making it easier to choose an eyewear option that expresses your personality.
Benefits of Sunglasses
Sunglasses aren’t just for looking stylish; they provide important protection for your eyes. Some benefits of sunglasses include:
- UV protection: UV radiation can damage the eyes over time or over a short period. UV exposure can lead to eye conditions such as photokeratitis and solar retinopathy (types of sunburn on the eye), pterygium (growths on the eye’s surface), ocular melanoma (cancer), age-related macular degeneration, and cataracts.
- Safety and comfort: Glare from the sun can be hazardous for some activities, such as driving. Wearing sunglasses can help improve safety for when you’re on the road. Sunglasses also reduce glare from surfaces like water or roads, making outdoor activities more comfortable. Choose polarized lenses if glare is a concern for you.
- Style: With a wide variety of designs, colours, and price points, sunglasses can help anyone express their personal style. Do note that not all sunglasses provide the same level of protection. Talk to your optometrist about what’s best for you.
Frames and Options

Whether it’s to save money or to wear your favourite frames more often, there are good reasons for using existing sunglasses frames for new prescription lenses. But depending on your needs, you may want to consider other options like prescription sunglasses, clip-on sunglasses, and photochromic lenses.
Prescription Sunglasses
Prescription sunglasses can be a good choice if you drive or spend a lot of time outdoors on sunny days. They look and feel just like regular sunglasses, except the lenses are tailored to your unique prescription. This means you can see comfortably and benefit from sun protection without losing your style!
Clip-On Sunglasses
If you regularly wear prescription glasses and only occasionally go out into the sun, clip-on sunglasses may be a convenient choice. Clip-ons look like dark lenses that you can attach onto your regular prescription glasses and take off when you go inside.
Clip-on sunglasses can be a good choice for those who don’t want to constantly switch between different pairs of glasses. They’re convenient and portable, and because they’re significantly less expensive, clip-ons are more budget-friendly compared to buying a second pair of prescription sunglasses.
Photochromic Lenses
Photochromic lenses, also known as transition lenses, automatically darken in sunlight and return to a clear state indoors. They may be a good choice for people who frequently move between indoor and outdoor settings.
In a photochromic lens, UV exposure triggers chemical reactions that result in a colour change in the lens. The lenses will go darker in brighter places. If you need prescription glasses and don’t want the trouble of buying another set of sunglasses or clip-ons, photochromic lenses may be a good choice for you.
Using Sunglasses Frames for Prescription Eyeglasses
In many cases, sunglasses frames can accommodate prescription lenses. But it’s important to have a professional do the switch for you. Doing it yourself can result in lenses popping out of the frame and becoming damaged. This can cost more in the long run.
So, talk to your optometrist if you want to use your sunglasses frames for prescription eyeglasses. An optometrist can help you find the right eyewear choice for you. They can also help you evaluate the compatibility, durability, and fit of your existing frames to see if they fit your needs.
Eyewear Options at Northern Lights Eyecare
At Northern Lights Eyecare, we want to take the time and listen to all your eye care concerns. If you’re interested in using an existing pair of sunglasses frames for prescription lenses, let us know. You will be heard here!We also offer eye care services and a wide variety of eyewear options to residents in Prince Albert and the surrounding area. Contact us today to book an appointment. We’re excited to see you!