Do you find yourself squinting and struggling with the glare of the sun as you’re driving? Do you wear prescription eyeglasses?
If you answered yes to both of these questions, consider using prescription sunglasses while driving!
If you’re unsure which prescription sunglasses for men are right for you, I’m here to help. Let’s get into it and go through my top picks.
Why You Should Use Prescription Sunglasses for Driving
Driving is something you probably do most days, and it feels like no big deal. It’s just something you do to get to places and get things done.
This shouldn’t minimize the importance of driving safely. Your most important “gear” when you drive? Your eyes!
You are presented with unique visual challenges when you drive. The glare of the morning sun. UV rays reflected off wet roads.
Sunglasses can protect you from glare and UV rays; make sure to look for sunglasses with 100% UV protection. Plus, they enhance contrast, helping you see better!
Should You Get Polarized Lenses?
One of the features to consider in prescription sunglasses is polarization. Polarized lenses reduce glare using vertical filters. These filters block horizontal light waves that reflect off roads, water, and other surfaces. Polarized lenses also give you a clearer and crisper view.
Keep in mind that polarized lenses aren’t the best choice for every type of driving condition, though. Because polarized lenses are designed to reduce light intensity, they aren’t the best choice on days with overcast skies.
You also typically won’t want to wear them while navigating icy roads. You want to be able to see the glare off the ice, which you won’t see as well with polarized lenses.
Choosing the Right Tint
Not all tints work well for driving prescription sunglasses. Some enhance safety and visual clarity. However, there are some tints you’ll want to keep away from as they distort colors.
Copper, Amber, and Brown
These hues are best for driving. They highlight the reds and greens while improving contrast against blue skies and gray asphalt.
Gray
Gray is a neutral color. It preserves the “true” colors of your surroundings while giving you some shade. It’s best for very bright, direct sunlight.
Dark Blue or Pink Tints
Be careful with these tints; they can distort the colors of traffic signals and road signs. It’s best to avoid dark blue or pink tints in your driving sunglasses.
Top Prescription-Ready Sunglasses for Driving
Ready to try a pair of prescription sunglasses for men? Here are some of my top choices!
The Classic Pair: Ray-Ban Aviator
You can’t have a driving sunglasses list without the Ray-Ban Aviator on it! These frames have become synonymous with masterful navigation and cool looks. Think Tom Cruise in Top Gun. Sure, you’re not piloting a military airplane, but hey, you might as well look the part!
Did you know that the Aviator’s signature teardrop shape is not just about style? The teardrop shape ensures that light does not leak in from the bottom or sides when pilots look at their plane’s dashboard.
Driving Edge: Ray-Ban uses Digital Surfacing Technology (DST) to craft its prescription lenses. This makes sure that the curve of the lenses is exact and specific to you.
Best For: Men who like rocking a classic, timeless look.
The Rugged Pair: Oakley Holbrook
If you’re more into the rugged look, the Oakley Holbrook sunglasses are for you! These frames are made from the brand’s proprietary O Matter™, which makes them some of the lightest and most durable driving sunglasses you can get. If you have to drive around all day, they are a good choice.
Driving Edge: Oakley’s Prizm™ Road lenses are designed specifically for driving. They feature special dyes that filter light. This helps make it easier to spot cracks and potholes in the road. Enjoy vision clarity whether you’re driving under bright light or overcast skies.
Best For: The man who enjoys being on the open road.
The Active Pair: Maui Jim MAKAHA
Maui Jim MAKAHA sunglasses are a good choice for men with an active lifestyle. Made from lightweight MauiPure lenses, these wraparound frames give you full protection and visual clarity on bright sunny days. The Neutral Grey and Bronze lenses both provide ample shade and glare reduction without any color distortion.
Driving Edge: Maui Jim’s PolarizedPlus2® technology is arguably the best in the industry for glare reduction and contrast enhancement. The Neutral Grey and the HCL® Bronze tints are some of the best options for daytime driving.
Best For: Men looking for a barely-there feel in their eyewear.
The Beachy Pair: Costa Del Mar RINCON
Sure, Costa Del Mar is more associated with water sports. But these RINCON sunglasses are just too cool to leave on the boat. You can take them out driving, too!
The Costa Del Mar RINCON sunglasses are some of the most comfortable driving sunglasses you can find. They’re made from durable, eco-friendly resin, and the lenses’ C-WALL coating repels water, oil, and sweat. Add in the brand’s 580® lens technology, and you get sunglasses that are perfect for driving!
Driving Edge: The 580G (Glass) prescription lenses offer unmatched scratch resistance and clarity. The sunglasses are also comfortable, allowing you to wear them all day.
Best For: Men who spend a lot of their time driving to the beach and back!
The Modern Pair: Serengeti MARCO
Serengeti is one of the most trusted names in eye protection, and their 3-in-1 Drivers lens technology shows why. The Drivers lenses are photochromic, polarized, and have Spectral Control blue-light and UV ray filtering.
On top of that, their sunglasses are Italian-made and absolutely gorgeous. Just take a look at the Serengeti MARCO!
Driving Edge: Drivers lens technology is appropriately named. Sunglasses with these lenses are perfect for driving! You get the optimum UV ray and glare protection, shades that adjust to light intensity, and superior visual clarity.
Best For: Men who like to drive and look good doing it!
What to Know Before You Buy These Sunglasses
When you’re searching for driving prescription sunglasses for men, make sure to check the VLT (Visible Light Transmission) category of the sunglasses. This should at least be Category 3 for ample sun protection on typical sunny days.
Make sure to have your prescription with you when you buy your sunglasses. This should include your Pupillary Distance (PD) measurement. This guarantees that the optical center of the lenses aligns with the center of your pupils.
TL;DR
- Prescription sunglasses are a good choice for any man who wears prescription eyewear and spends a lot of time out on the road.
- Prescription sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and glare when driving, and they help you see with clarity.
- Some of the best prescription-ready sunglasses include the Ray-Ban Aviator, Oakley Holbrook, Maui Jim MAKAHA, Costa Del Mar RINCON, and Serengeti MARCO.
- Before you buy, make sure the sunglasses are at least VLT Category 3. You also need to have your prescription and PD measurements with you.
