Prescription sunglasses in Rochester Hills: polarized, designer, and built for Michigan glare
Lake glare in July, snow glare in January, low sun on Walton Blvd at 5 PM. Here is why polarized prescription sun lenses earn their keep in Michigan.
Michigan has two glare seasons. Summer bounces sunlight off Stony Creek, Lake Orion and every wet road after a storm; winter bounces it off snow with the sun sitting low and straight in your windshield. If you wear glasses, squinting through clip-ons or driving in your regular pair isn't a plan. Prescription sunglasses are.
Why polarized matters here
Ordinary tinted lenses make everything darker. Polarized lenses block the specific horizontal light that reflects off water, pavement and snow, which is the light that actually blinds you. The difference on the drive up M-24 on a bright winter afternoon is not subtle. Polarized lenses also cut the glare that makes eyes tired by the end of a summer day outside.
UV protection is the part you can't see
Every sun lens we sell blocks 100% of UVA and UVB. That matters more than the tint: UV exposure over a lifetime is linked to cataracts, macular degeneration and growths on the surface of the eye. A dark lens without UV protection is worse than no sunglasses, because the pupil opens wider behind it. Cheap gas-station sunglasses are the usual offender.
Your prescription, in the frames you actually want
Almost every sun frame in the boutique can take prescription lenses: Ray-Ban Wayfarers and aviators, Tom Ford, Prada, Versace, Gucci and Chanel sun styles, and Rudy Project wraps for cycling, running and golf. Strong prescriptions and highly curved wrap frames need some lens know-how, which is exactly what our opticians do all day. Single vision, progressive and even bifocal sun lenses are all options.
Tint, mirror or photochromic?
- Gray keeps colors true; the all-rounder for driving.
- Brown or copper boosts contrast, great for golf, fishing and overcast days.
- Mirror coatings cut brightness further and look sharp, especially on Rudy Project sport frames.
- Photochromic lenses darken outdoors and clear up inside, one pair for everything, though they don't darken much behind a windshield, so drivers usually still want a dedicated sun pair.
Paying for them
Many vision plans include a second-pair discount, and prescription sunglasses are an eligible FSA and HSA expense. If you're using year-end benefits, a sun pair is a smart way to do it. Call (248) 375-0040 or come try frames on at 3110 Walton Blvd in Rochester Hills.
20/20 Vision is an independent optometry practice and designer eyewear boutique at 3110 Walton Blvd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309, serving Rochester Hills, Rochester, Oakland Township, Auburn Hills and Troy since 1980. Eye exams with Dr. David Dolan, OD. In-network with VSP.