Question about Prescription Sunglasses (e.g. Oakley)

Factual Questions
1

I am looking to get prescription sunglasses, from a company like Oakley or Maui Jim. Both companies only deal with “dealers” or optometrists.

Calling optometrists, I find that a particular pair of sunglasses costs $200, and prescription lenses are an additional $300 (ballpark figures).

I called two optometrists, and asked how much are the frames only, as I do not want to pay for non-prescription lenses, have them taken out, and then for prescription lenses to be made and added. Both told me that I have to buy the stock sunglasses (with lenses) and then have them shipped to the manufacturer (both (Oakley and Maui Jim make their own lenses for sunglasses)

In essence, I would be paying for lenses twice (original, and prescription)…

Anyone in the optometry field that can explain or assist?

2

You can find independent optical shops that will make their own custom lenses to fit Oakley or Maui Jim frames.

There is also an Oakley opthalmic-specific line, which is basically a bunch of the sunglass models with a smaller base curvature (in order to accept a wider variety of lens requirements) plus some which are designed for regular eyeglass lenses.

There’s not really any point in getting prescription glasses from either brand, as the optical benefits they like to advertise don’t apply to prescription glasses, and their proprietary lens coatings and tints aren’t really that special.

FTR, you’re only paying about $40 for the stock lenses, which is a pretty trivial cost relative to the $500ish you’ll be paying for the frame + Rx lens combo.