# Do these sunglasses exist? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 28, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557 "2005-03-28T04:44:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/1 "2005-03-28T04:44:28Z")
Hi… (waves) I’ve been looking and looking for something, and I thought someone here might know… IS there such a thing as sunglasses with UV protection that do NOT have dark lenses? I’ve never seen them. And if so, WHERE could I find them??? ---
**Author:** ![sishoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/3e96dc/32.png) [@sishoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sishoch)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 4:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/2 "2005-03-28T04:56:43Z")
Most prescription glasses come with a UV coating. Ask your local optician, they can probably make a pair of glasses with no correction. ---
**Author:** ![jnglmassiv](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f07891/32.png) [@jnglmassiv](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jnglmassiv)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 5:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/3 "2005-03-28T05:04:46Z")
I think many regular prescription eyeglasses and binoculars and telescope lenses often come with a transparent UV coating. [Here’s a link](http://www.edmundoptics.com/onlinecatalog/displayproduct.cfm?productID=1604) for some glasses that have a strong and wide UV inhibiting range and are orangish in tint. ---
**Author:** ![Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e19adc/32.png) [@Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 12:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/4 "2005-03-28T12:50:02Z")
My eyeglasses come with an anti-UV coating. It’s one of the standard options available to us regular spectacles-wearers. ---
**Author:** ![UncleBeer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/977dab/32.png) [@UncleBeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/UncleBeer)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/5 "2005-03-28T17:20:18Z")
“Standard Option?” What the heck is a “standard option?” ---
**Author:** ![Anaptyxis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anaptyxis/32/3171_2.png) [@Anaptyxis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaptyxis)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 5:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/6 "2005-03-28T17:23:52Z")
If you’re feeling wealthy, you can also check out “slider” sunglasses. Those are frames that come with two or three different sets of lenses that range from dark (for sunny days) to yellow (awesome for improving visibility on cloudy days). You swap in the color that is most appropriate for that day. I love them for cycling because I need to wear eye protection whether it’s a sunny day or not - my eyes water like crazy otherwise. High-end athletic outfitters like REI or other sporting goods places should have them. \ I paid about $100 for my pair and I love 'em. ---
**Author:** ![Anise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anise/32/21721_2.png) [@Anise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anise)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/7 "2005-03-28T19:09:53Z")
Well, the prescription glasses idea isn’t going to work… I was actually really hoping somebody knew of a CHEAP brand. 😉 I use them outdoors while doing landscaping work. Glasses with any tint on them at all obscure too many details that I need to see, but I do need UV protection. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 7:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/8 "2005-03-28T19:17:59Z")
> [@UncleBeer](#): > > “Standard Option?” What the heck is a “standard option?” It’s an option that nearly all opticians offer. The option to provide an anti-glare coating, for example, might not be standard. ---
**Author:** ![Valgard](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/7feea3/32.png) [@Valgard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Valgard)\ **Post date:** [March 28, 2005, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-these-sunglasses-exist/296557/9 "2005-03-28T23:35:28Z")
> [@Anise](#): > > Well, the prescription glasses idea isn’t going to work… I was actually really hoping somebody knew of a CHEAP brand. 😉 I use them outdoors while doing landscaping work. Glasses with any tint on them at all obscure too many details that I need to see, but I do need UV protection. I’m sure that someone will be along to correct or clarify this, but I believe that plain old glass lenses provide very good UV protection. Plastic lenses won’t block UV by themselves (need coating). And obviously anything clear won’t block much visible light. Interestingly enough I was just visiting some friends in LA this weekend and one of them was sporting clear/untinted sunglasses. I’m not sure if that’s something that you’ll find in the drugstore along with the $10 cheapies though.