How to Choose Your Fit Over Sunglasses

Fit-over sunglasses differ from regular sunglasses in two ways:

• The temples are wider to encompass the prescription glasses worn underneath
• The frames are larger and thicker, so your prescription glasses aren’t visible

Fit-over sunglasses provide the same benefits any sunglasses provide; protection from UV rays, minimising damage to your eyes and vision and ensuring you can see unimpeded. With wear-over sunglasses, you don’t have to choose between vision correction or sun protection; it’s the convenient solution to achieve both. So if you’re asking yourself whether you can wear sunglasses over regular glasses, the answer is yes - with the right kind!

There are two types of OTG sunglasses: wear-over and clip-on.

Wear-over sunglasses are slightly larger than your eyeglasses and fit over your prescription glasses. They’re like any other sunglasses and cover the glasses below fully to provide complete UVA & UVB protection.

Clip-on comprise two lenses that provide complete UV protection and fit over your prescription lenses. As the name suggests, they clip onto the nose bridge of your glasses and can be flipped up if you want to switch to clear lenses.

Fit-over sunglasses, much like regular sunglasses, offer a wide variety of extra features that you can consider, depending on how often you’ll be using them, when and where.

UV Protection
Make sure to opt for fit-over sunglasses that block as close to 100% of all UV light as possible; these are often labelled UV400 and offer maximum protection.

Tinted Lenses
While tinted lenses won’t make a difference in the quality of UV protection, they can help you minimise glare, give you clearer vision while driving give you better depth perception depending on the tint colour you opt for. If you’re looking to use your fit-over sunglasses for a particular activity, it’s worth looking into what colour tint will help you the most.

Durability
Durability is an essential factor to consider if you’ll be wearing your glasses while being active; while the right fit should mean that your shades will stay relatively snug and make it less likely to take a tumble, it’s worth finding a pair that offers greater impact resistance.

Choose polycarbonate lenses if you’re likely to drop or scrape your sunglasses, as they’re more resistant to impact.

When answering the question on how to measure for fitting sunglasses, you need to make sure that the size of your prescription glasses and the size of the wear-over sunglasses are compatible - not the same.

Measure the height and width of your prescription glasses ( in millimetres for greater accuracy). Your fit-over sunglasses frame needs to be slightly bigger in both metrics than your prescription glasses to fit comfortably.

Fit-over sunglasses should offer a snug feel around the frame and style of your glasses below. If you find your sunglasses wobbling uncomfortably while active, this means you need to find a better fit.

If you’re struggling, take a third measurement, the width of your nose bridge, for an extra metric to aim for.

Polarized sunglasses are fitted with tented lenses to reduce brightness and minimise glare caused by sunlight bouncing off reflective surfaces. This is due to a chemical coating that darkens your vision slightly, although your vision will be more precise when dealing with glaring light and minimise eye strain.

Polarized sunglasses are particularly great for high-glare environments and seasons. This is why they are considered a huge asset for keen fishers who look to reduce glare from sunlight bouncing off the water, often resulting in a blinding light. This allows for more effective water reading and wading obstacles.

The drawback is that it can take a little getting used to as they will tint your vision for a darker view. This is particularly noticeable when you operate LCD screens, including mobile phones, tablets and car displays, as these become harder to read.

Fit-on sunglasses aren’t the only convenient alternative to your dilemma. You can also opt for prescription sunglasses that offer sun protection and vision correction, all via the only layer of lenses. Here’s what you need to know:

• Prescription sunglasses are custom-made to offer a perfect fit and will likely be the more comfortable alternative, with fit-over sunglasses weighing slightly heavier and potentially more likely to slide down your nose bridge.
• You’ll have more options in terms of styles and features, with prescription sunglasses usually seen as the more fashionable option.
• The price point is usually higher, especially if you already have your prescription sunglasses and are simply looking for clip-ons.
• Fit-over sunglasses are more impact-resistant with the extra layer of durable frames - a handy feature for those practising sports.