Prescription glasses and sunglasses for every occasion

7th April marks World Health Day. It is an important reminder to prioritise your self-care and protect not only your general health, but the health of your eyes. Booking regular eye tests is essential. An eye exam is not just for getting a brand-new prescription, but it can also help detect other health issues, like diabetes, glaucoma and high blood pressure before symptoms even begin. Most adults are expected to attend an eye test at least every two years which may increase as you get older or if you have other health conditions. As well as getting your eyes checked regularly, you also need to make sure you are safeguarding your vision for the future by wearing appropriate eyewear for every activity you participate in, from driving your car and staying active to carrying out your day-to-day work and routines. It is important that you have sunglasses for every occasion.

Staying safe on the road

When you get behind the wheel to drive, it’s important to make sure you’re wearing appropriate eyewear as this will help keep you and others safe on the road. You need to be aware of any potential hazards on the road but bright light from the sun can obscure your view and make it hard to see. However, sunglasses with Transitions® Drivewear® lenses that are optimised for driving help improve your view and enhance contrast. They bring together light intelligent technology with polarisation to help minimise reflective glare in all conditions. These sophisticated lenses are also able to prevent vision impairment due to rapidly changing light conditions. They function effectively in overcast weather and also bright sunshine.

Transitions® Drivewear® lenses are always tinted and their colour changes according to the light around you. They go from an olive-green colour in low light conditions which improves visibility and prevents glare from disrupting your vision. The lenses even turn a copper colour behind the windshield of your car, providing reliable traffic signal recognition and improved contrast for greater visual clarity. Meanwhile, the polarisation blocks glare for a safe driving experience. Whilst outdoors, Transitions® Drivewear® lenses turn a dark-reddish brown. At this time, they block 100% of UVA/B rays from bright sunlight.

Sunglasses for driving

Can I wear standard sunglasses when driving?

We have a selection of sunglasses tints for you to choose from. Our dark sunglasses tints are suitable for driving. We would recommend either the brown or green tints which both offer enhanced contrast for improved visual clarity.

Meanwhile, polarised lenses reduce glare that reflects off horizontal surfaces like wet roads and other vehicles on the road. This dazzling glare can lead to eye strain and can be very dangerous and distracting when driving. Brown polarised lenses are particularly ideal for driving during the daytime because they improve contrast and reduce eye strain, resulting in greater visual comfort. However, it’s important to be aware that they can make it more difficult to see LCD screens so you may have trouble seeing your dashboard controls. This is why gradient tints make a better alternative because they are dark at the top and fade gradually towards to the bottom of the lens. They are perfect for driving because they protect the wearer them from the bright sun overhead and also enable them to see their dashboard clearly.

You should be aware that sunglasses are not safe to drive at night with. If you’re driving at night, we recommend you get a pair of glasses with an anti-reflective coating which will reduce reflections and glare from vehicle headlights. A majority of our reliable lens packages come complete with this.

Protect your eyes when watching TV and using digital devices

If you spend a lot of time binge-watching your favourite TV programmes and series on Netflix or another streaming service, it’s worthwhile investing in blue light lenses. They filter blue-violet light and can help to improve visual comfort when you’re using your digital devices. This is especially ideal if your profession requires you to work from a laptop or computer for extended periods. Lenses that block blue-violet light can help reduce eye strain.

Glasses with blue light lenses

What are some alternatives to blue light glasses?

If you would prefer an alternative to blue-violet light lenses, there are some other ways you can minimise eye strain. From tactical methods during screen use to adding lens coatings to your prescription glasses, there are several ways you can make yourself more comfortable.

Take regular breaks from your screen

It’s vital that you protect your sight when using digital devices. Take time away from your screen and follow the simple 20-20-20 rule (every 20 minutes, you should focus your eyes on an object located 20 feet away for 20 seconds). This will give your eyes a chance to rest from looking at a digital screen close-up and enable them to focus on different distances.

Make adjustments to your workspace

Make sure your monitor is directly in front of you. It should be around an arm’s length away and just below your eye level. You should also make sure you have a proper computer chair that can be adjusted appropriately. Correct your posture and make sure your feet are flat on the ground.

Adjust your screen settings

Check your computer screen settings to ensure they have the correct brightness and contrast. The filters can even help to lower the extent to which blue-violet light is emitted. A glare screen is also another reliable tool which will minimise reflections from lights and through windows. If you’re reading small font or looking at images, try expanding them and zooming in. This will mean your eyes will not have to work as hard to focus on smaller visuals.

Get anti-reflective lenses

Most of our reliable lens packages come with an anti-reflection coating that reduce the impact of problematic reflections on your eyes and ultimately minimise eye strain. This will benefit you greatly and help make your eyes feel more comfortable. They are also scratch resistant, which protects the lenses from minor abrasions and thus helps you enjoy a clearer view of your screen.

Try varifocal lenses

Varifocal lenses are another ideal solution if you need prescription glasses to see up-close and at a distance. They offer a clear, continuous view from distance to intermediate to near vision. You can choose to add blue light lenses which will filter blue-violet light for greater visual comfort.

What sunglasses should I wear for outdoor sports?

Polarised sunglasses are ideal for sports like running, cycling, fishing and golf. They block blinding glare for improved visual comfort, enhance contrast for visual clarity and provide 100% UVA/B protection. Polarised sunglasses are highly practical and enable you to focus on your performance. Ideally, you’ll want to choose frames from innovative sports brands like Oakley and Harrington Sport. Each design offers a secure and comfortable fit and is expertly engineered for outdoor sports and intense workouts. If you’re a keen cyclist, green lenses are ideal if you ride in woodland or forests a lot as they enhance your vision in shadowy area. To find out more about which sunglasses tints suit specific activities, visit our guide to tinted lens colours.

Sunglasses for outdoor sports