Optical glasses or 'fashion' glasses? Why some are better than others

By “fashion” glasses we mean those sold in clothing shops, or on online platforms full of bargain deals. Optical glasses, or glasses that could be sold in an optician's, are the ones we describe below.

This question is often not even asked, and understandably so: sunglasses just need to look good, full stop. But what if that is not the whole story? There are nuances not everyone knows about, and it would be worth your while to know them.

The main difference is, essentially, your eye health. Optical products, however stylish they may be, always put minimum requirements for the customer's health first. These are:

  • UV protection tested to filter 100% of UVB and UVA rays below 400 nm.
  • A categorised sun filter (cat. 0-4): the higher the category, the darker the lens. I recommend cat. 3 as the most versatile.
  • The quality of the materials. Whether acetate or injection-moulded, the quality and durability of the glasses are much greater than those of the other kind, which do not have to pass any specific checks.
  • The lenses must be neutral, meaning they have no effect that alters perception beyond how dark they are. If you wear glasses whose lenses are not truly neutral, you can alter your eyes' prescription. In the long run, that costs more.

All of this allows them to carry the CE mark of approval under European Union regulations. They are also PPE designs (“equipment designed and manufactured to be worn or held by a person for protection against one or more risks to that person's health or safety”).

Of course, the quality of the frame also counts. At the opticians we make sure to test and inspect the product before putting it on sale. So it is rare for them to break after a short time, which multiplies their durability and practicality.

You do not need to look at $200 glasses: a certified optical product is enough. Fortunately, many glasses meet these requirements at quite affordable prices.

This is, essentially, what sets one type of glasses apart from the other. We believe it is worth investing in a product that is very beneficial in the medium to long term.