Can You Wear Prescription Sunglasses with Contacts?

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Can You Wear Prescription Sunglasses with Contacts?

Can You Wear Prescription Sunglasses with Contacts?

At QUAY, we love a pair of prescription glasses to keep our vision on point. Though we can’t resist the specs appeal that shades and glasses give, we'll keep it at 100: Many people have both contacts and prescription glasses. Having two forms of vision correction can give you options. When playing sports, for example, some people prefer wearing contacts to avoid damaging their frames

If you're one of the many who have both contacts and prescription glasses (or prescription sunglasses), you might have legit questions about how to wear them. Here's a major one: Can you wear contacts with sunglasses or prescription sunglasses? We’ve got the deets ahead.

A female model posing and wearing a green top with QUAY HIGH KEY RX sunglasses

What Happens When You Wear Glasses Over Contacts?

Wearing Contacts With Non-Prescription Sunglasses

If you wear contacts, one way you can protect your eyes at all the bright times is by wearing non-prescription sunglasses with your contact lenses. Besides providing you with protection from UV rays, shades also create a barrier against physical elements such as wind. Plus, they’re great for adding a little something extra to your ‘fits. 

Wearing Contacts With Prescription Glasses

But can you wear contacts with glasses or sunglasses that have a prescription? You can, but you'd usually do this if you have presbyopia, an age-related condition in which the eyes gradually lose their ability to focus on near objects around age 40. In this case, someone who wears contact lenses for distance correction might wear reading glasses on top for close-range vision correction. 

If you have presbyopia, another option is to go with progressive lenses so that you only need one pair of glasses or sunnies. Keep in mind that Quay currently fills single vision +4 to -6 and astigmatism of +/-4. If you submit a progressive prescription, we can make single-vision lenses for you. Got some q’s? Talk with an eye care professional to decide which option works best for you. 

An array of square and round QUAY eyewear

Is It Safe to Alternate Between Glasses and Contacts?  

So, what’s the deal on alternating between glasses and contacts? Many people get both glasses and contacts to give themselves options. In fact, glasses are recommended as a backup for your contacts. They’re must-haves if you lose your contacts, have an eye infection, or simply want to give your eyes a break. And with prescription sunnies, there's no need to wear your contacts simultaneously to keep your vision in the clear. 

If you're interested in both glasses and contacts, remember that contacts are an additional time investment. A contact lens exam takes longer than a routine eye exam, and you need to stay on top of cleaning contacts and taking them out. Of course, consult your optometrist or ophthalmologist to determine what’s ideal for your eye care needs. 

In any case, clear vision is QUAY. Looking to keep your vision on point with specs? Shop QUAY’s Rx collection for prescription sunglasses to turn heads your way.

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