Prescription Sunglasses: Clear Vision in the Sun
If you wear glasses, regular sunglasses often aren’t the answer: everything gets darker, but not any clearer. With prescription sunglasses, you can see clearly even in bright sunlight, and your eyes are protected from UV rays. At Van der Geest Optiek in Haarlem, we custom-make your prescription sunglasses from scratch. You choose the frames and lenses, and we grind the lenses in our own workshop. Here’s what you’ll notice:
- Clear vision in bright light: on the beach, on the water, in the snow, or while biking.
- Less glare: when the sun is low in the sky or the road is wet, your vision is less strained.
- Protection against UV rays: Your eyes are better protected, even on cloudy days.
- No hassle: you don't have to switch between your glasses and non-prescription sunglasses, or put in contact lenses.
Which lenses should you choose for your prescription sunglasses?
There are many options, so let's work together to find the glass that best suits your needs:
- Tinted glass: evenly colored, in gray, brown, green, or another color.
- Gradient: The glass transitions from dark at the top to light at the bottom. This is handy if you also want to read or look at a screen.
- Polarized lenses: eliminate glare from water, snow, and wet roads. You’ll see a clearer, more contrast-rich image.
- Photochromic lenses: they darken in the sun and lighten again when you go indoors. One pair of glasses for both indoors and outdoors.
- Mirror coating: a reflective layer on the outside, providing extra protection against bright light and giving the product a sporty look.
Prescription sunglasses are available in almost any prescription. If you have one prescription for distance or near vision, choose single-vision lenses. If you have trouble seeing both up close and at a distance, multifocal lenses are also an option, allowing you to read in the sun without taking off your glasses. We also make prescription sunglasses for children. Children’s eyes let in more UV radiation than adults’, so good sunglasses are especially important for them; read more about children’s glasses. Curious about the layers on a lens? Read more about lens coatings.
Not sure if your sunglasses block enough UV rays? Bring them to the store, and we'll test them for you free of charge.
Brands, your own sunglasses, or clip-ons
At our store in Haarlem, you’ll find sunglasses from brands such as Ray-Ban, Jimmy Choo, Morel, Marc O’Polo, and Brendel. We also offer prescription lenses for many of these frames. Prefer sunglasses without a prescription? You’re still welcome to come try them on. If you already have a pair of sunglasses you like, we can often fit them with prescription lenses. We’ll first check if your frame is suitable for this; for example, it’s not always possible with strongly curved sports frames. Read more about getting new lenses in your own frames.
Don't want a separate pair of sunglasses? Then a clip-on is a handy solution: a sun clip-on that you clip onto your own glasses. There are several options:
- Custom-made in our own workshop: we custom-make the clip-on sunglasses lenses ourselves to fit your frames.
- Custom-made with a colored frame: a clip-on made externally specifically for your glasses, with a metal frame in the color of your choice and a lens color of your choice.
- Standard clip-on: For some frames, there is a ready-made clip-on from the brand itself.
Here's how it works at Van der Geest Optiek
From the eye exam to picking up your glasses, we handle everything ourselves in five steps:
- Eye Exam: We'll test your vision, or you can bring a recent prescription. Learn more about the eye exam.
- Choosing frames: Take your time trying on different pairs of sunglasses, and we'll advise you on fit and style.
- Choosing lenses: Together, we’ll select the lenses, the color, and any extras, such as polarized lenses or a mirror coating.
- Lensing in our own workshop: We lens the lenses and fit them into your frames.
- Pickup and Fitting: We'll adjust your sunglasses so they fit properly. They're usually ready within 1 to 2 weeks.
Frequently Asked Questions About Prescription Sunglasses
Ja, de meeste zonnebrillen op sterkte zijn geschikt om mee te rijden. Een heel donker glas (categorie 4) is niet geschikt voor het verkeer. Meekleurende glazen worden achter de voorruit nauwelijks donker, en met gepolariseerde glazen kan een display in de auto soms minder goed leesbaar zijn. We denken graag met je mee over het beste glas voor onderweg.
Prescription sunglasses are usually ready within 1 to 2 weeks. If you choose special lenses or a specific color, it may take longer. We'll let you know in advance when you can pick them up.
That's often the case. We first check whether your frames are suitable for prescription lenses. For example, highly curved sports frames aren't always an option. We always discuss this with you beforehand.
Tinted lenses darken everything and protect against bright light. Polarized lenses do the same, but they also eliminate glare from water, snow, and wet roads. This allows you to see more clearly and with greater contrast.
Yes. You can also have prescription sunglasses made with multifocal lenses. That way, you can see clearly both far away and up close in the sun—for example, to read your phone or a menu.
Looking for prescription sunglasses in Haarlem? Stop by at 86 Generaal Cronjéstraat in Haarlem, call us at 023 5254 131, or schedule an appointment using the online calendar on our contact page.
No rights may be derived from the information on this page or from any apparent errors or typos. The types of lenses and frames available depend on your prescription and the frame you choose. We always discuss this with you in advance.
