Are Expensive Sunglasses Worth It?

The most important reason to wear sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. You may be surprised to learn that expensive sunglasses don’t protect your eyes any better than cheaper ones. In fact, a recent study found that lenses in both costly and more affordable sunglasses provide virtually the same amount of protection from UVA and UVB rays.

Read on to learn the differences between expensive and cheap sunglasses so you can find the best sunglasses for you.

Understanding the Price of Sunglasses

If you’ve ever shopped for shades, you know that prices can vary a lot. Factors that influence price include:

Quality of the lenses
Lens coatings and features, such as polarized and anti-reflective
Quality of the frame materials
If the sunglasses are handmade
The warranty

Generally, the main reason that high-end sunglasses are so expensive is the reputation of the brand. The brand is a status symbol that you’re paying for when you buy designer sunglasses.

Benefits of Expensive Sunglasses

Here are some reasons why expensive sunglasses are worth the price:

Higher-quality lenses – Lenses used in expensive eyewear are more likely to be polycarbonate, which is thinner and more impact- and scratch-resistant than regular plastic lenses. Some may have glass lenses, which have a longer lens life than plastic.
Built-in lens coatings – Many high-end sunglass lenses come standard with polarization to reduce glare. A scratch-resistant coating and other coatings may also be pre-applied instead of applied to the lens afterward.
More lens options available – Prescription sunglass lenses and photochromic lenses that darken automatically outside may be more commonly available in expensive sunglasses.
Better frame materials – A high-end frame should be sturdy enough to hold heavier prescription lenses, resist impact, and have smooth hinges that fold and unfold easily.

By using higher-quality materials, expensive sunglasses are also likely to last longer than cheaper sunglasses.

Pros and Cons of Cheap Sunglasses

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates sunglasses as a medical device. This means that items labeled for sale as sunglasses that are made, imported, or distributed in the United States must protect a person’s eyes from bright sunlight, regardless of how much they cost.

Given that, here are some things to consider if you’re shopping for cheap sunglasses:

Pros:

You can afford to have multiple pairs.
Even cheap sunglasses can have 100% protection from UVA and UVB rays (sometimes labeled as UV400).
You may be able to add additional lens coatings and features.

Cons:

If they’re made with lower-quality materials, the lenses may become warped, come in different sizes, or have uneven coloring.
They may not fit you well.
They can break more easily.
There may be a smaller selection of shades with 100% UV protection.
They may be made with lower-quality frame materials.

Designer Sunglasses for Women

FramesDirect offers the largest online selection of authentic designer eyewear. We are an authorized retailer of all the brands we carry and we get the glasses frames directly from the manufacturers. All of our designer eyewear brands are guaranteed to be 100% authentic, and we have options at every price point.

Here are some high-end designer sunglasses brands for women that we love:

Check out our best brand picks for mid-range designer sunglasses for women:

You’re sure to love our brand selection of affordable designer sunglasses for women, including:

Shop additional women’s sunglasses.

Designer Sunglasses for Men

We also have a broad selection of men’s designer sunglasses at various prices.

Here are our brand picks for best high-end designer sunglasses for men:

These are our favorite mid-range brands of designer sunglasses for men:

Costa
Persol

Take a look at some of our most popular brands of affordable designer sunglasses for men:

Shop additional men’s sunglasses.

Making the Right Choice for Your Eyes and Style

The choice between a budget-friendly pair of sunglasses and a luxury brand depends on your personal preference. What matters most is finding shades that protect your eyes from UV rays and suit your lifestyle.

Shop FramesDirect for superior-quality, stylish eyewear — we have thousands of options for you to explore.

SOURCES:

Spectral evaluation of eyeglass blocking efficiency of ultraviolet/high-energy visible blue light for ocular protection. Optometry and Vision Science. July 2019.
Why designer sunglasses cost more? LinkedIn. July 2023.
Designer shades: Are they really worth it? All About Vision. February 2020.
Guidance document for nonprescription sunglasses - guidance for industry. US Food and Drug Administration. October 1998.
Why cheap sunglasses are dangerous for your eyes. Nvision Centers. December 2022.
Cheap sunglasses: Benefits and drawbacks. All About Vision. February 2021.