Sunglasses are a true fashion accessory, but above all, they are essential protection against the sun's rays that should be chosen with care! And sometimes, the lenses of our favorite pair get damaged, and they need to be replaced.
But is it possible to change your lenses? How? We explain everything!
Sunglasses, much more than an accessory
Summer is here, and you can already see yourself showing off the latest trendy pair of sunglasses by the pool. We’re stopping you right there; beyond the aesthetic aspect, wearing sunglasses is a real health habit to adopt to protect your eyes.
Before making your choice for the ideal pair of sunglasses, take a look at the UV protection rating of its lenses (UVA and UVB).
Because, due to their very short wavelength, these rays are particularly dangerous for your eyes, in summer as well as in winter. If you expose your precious eyes to UV rays too often without the necessary protection, you risk serious problems such as:
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😵💫 Risk of corneal damage (keratitis)
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😵 Risk of temporary or permanent blindness
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😶🌫️ Increased risk of cataracts due to clouding of the crystalline lens
As you will have understood, we don't mess around with sun protection! Rather than dwelling on the choice of brands for your next favorite pair, it is better to choose quality sunglasses for the health of your little peepers.
Fortunately, since 1995, manufacturers have been required to treat their sunglass lenses against UV rays and also to indicate their protection category.
These UV protection levels are classified into 4 categories:
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0️⃣: zero protection, purely aesthetic
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1️⃣ and 2️⃣: protection adapted to low and medium solar brightness
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3️⃣: the most suitable for high solar brightness for daily use
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4️⃣: protection against very high brightness (in the mountains for example, or on the surface of the sun, but be careful it's hot) but not suitable for driving
Remember to refer to these indications to properly choose your sunglasses and thus protect your eyes when you expose yourself to the sun.
Why change your sunglass lenses?
There is no shortage of reasons! Maybe to keep your frame and respect the environment, or for the style, or because you want something that protects better. Or maybe your lenses are damaged or scratched, and unfortunately, repairing a scratched lens is usually not possible.
But is changing your lenses while keeping your frame a real solution?
The answer is yes… in most cases.
Obviously, the best way to answer this question is to consult a professional who will tell you if your lenses can be changed depending on the type of frame but also (and above all!) the new lenses involved.
🧑🔧 Changing damaged sunglass lenses
Do your sunglass lenses have scratches or signs of wear? Don't panic, you can replace them with new lenses!
If it's a simple replacement of your lenses without changing your prescription, first check if you have a warranty from the manufacturer of your sunglasses. Depending on the brand, repair and replacement of damaged lenses are covered—always a welcome measure for the budget.
But it is also a great gesture for the planet because you extend the lifespan of your pair of glasses by keeping the same frame!
💡 Good to know: a lens with scratches loses its effectiveness against UV rays. Hence the importance of taking care of your sunglasses and replacing damaged lenses with new, suitable ones. This will restore your glasses to their original effectiveness.
🌈 Changing the tint of your sunglass lenses
For better comfort, you may want to change the color of your sunglass lenses. Because yes, sunglass lens tints aren't (just) there to look pretty; each color has a very specific role:
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🟢 green allows for better color perception and has a more restful effect.
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🟤 brown helps better perceive contrasts and depth.
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🟡 yellow allows for better detail perception, contrast, and depth, and can be used in cloudy weather.
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🌑 gray is the tint that distorts colors the least in high brightness.
🤓 Changing to prescription lenses
If you also belong to the "I can't see a thing, where are my glasses" team, you have several solutions to be able to wear sunglasses and thus protect your eyes from nasty UV rays:
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Wear contact lenses: quality lenses adapted to your vision allow you to wear any pair of sunglasses (but still opt for category 3 pairs).
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Opt for clip-ons: sunglass lenses that clip onto your frame, often from the same brand.
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Get a prescription for a pair of sunglasses adapted to your prescription.
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Buy prescription glasses with photochromic or transition lenses that tint based on the level of sunlight.
But back to our nearsighted issues: how do you get the lenses of your sunglasses changed so they are adapted to your prescription?
For a change in prescription, your mission (should you choose to accept it) is to first make an appointment with an ophthalmologist to check your vision and get a prescription for new lenses. The next step is to inquire at an optician's shop to have new prescription sunglass lenses made that are compatible with the frame of your glasses.
Most of the time, changing the prescription does not affect the compatibility of the lenses with your frame. We obviously advise you to discuss this with a professional to be sure and to know the terms and cost of the operation.
🕶 The case of “special” lenses
To change lenses on a pair of sunglasses, several parameters come into play: lens thickness, shape, and the materials used. That is why you must also visit an optician to switch to polarized lenses, photochromic lenses, or new lenses with special treatments or filters.
Indeed, the materials and treatments used can alter the thickness of the lens and therefore its compatibility with your frame. Your optician will be able to tell you if the change is possible or if you will have to say goodbye to your favorite pair of glasses.
In any case, don't try to change your lenses yourself: it's better to leave that to the professionals.
Switching to anti-blue light sunglass lenses
You might tell yourself that outdoors, you don't necessarily need blue light protection. To that, we say yes… and no! Screens are everywhere: when you're walking down the street and want to check your phone, when you decide to work on a terrace, you may also need to protect yourself against blue light and its effects.
At Horus X, we not only offer quality anti-blue light, anti-reflective, and 100% anti-UV sunglasses, but we also think about those who love their frame so much that they couldn't imagine changing it.
If you already own a pair of glasses equipped with anti-blue light technology, we advise you to take a look at our Clips On Sun, high-protection sunglass lenses that attach in a snap to our Urban, Urban Revolution, and Stockholm models.
Why protect yourself only from UV when you can protect yourself from both UV and blue light?
💡 Good to know: don't try to avoid ALL blue light, even outdoors! Natural blue light, especially that of the morning, is essential for regulating the circadian rhythm. It might even have beneficial effects on mental health!
How to change your sunglass lenses yourself?
If you want to start changing your sunglass lenses all by yourself, we’ve prepared a small tutorial with the procedure to change your sunglass lenses in just 5 steps.
1️⃣ First of all, get the necessary equipment
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🕶 Your new lenses adapted to your frame (the basic necessity), clip-on or screw-in
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🪛 A screwdriver or wrench for screw-in lenses
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🪶 A clean, soft cloth to handle the lenses without damaging them
Make sure you have a clean, well-lit workspace (no need for a mask or sterile field for this operation).
2️⃣ Remove the old lenses
Even if it may seem delicate, it's actually very simple!
If they are clip-on lenses, you will just need to pull gently to detach them.
If you want to change screw-in lenses, use a screwdriver or appropriate wrench to remove them. Important: remember to set the screws aside so you don't lose them!
3️⃣ Prepare your frame
As a reminder, we are still talking about sunglasses and not horseback riding, please drop that saddle and those stirrups.
Before replacing the lenses, carefully clean the frame of your sunglasses to remove any residue, dust, or dirt.
4️⃣ Put in the new lenses
If you have opted for screw-in lenses, this is the time to concentrate: they must be perfectly aligned with your frame (the glasses frame, always, pay attention) to be able to screw them in delicately with the appropriate screwdriver or wrench.
In the case of clip-on lenses, it's even simpler: align your lenses well on your frame and press firmly (but gently!) on them to install them.
5️⃣ Perform the final checks
And there you go, you did it! All that's left is to check that your new lenses are correctly positioned and, if necessary, consult an optician to adjust them.
Final word: can you change sunglass lenses?
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Can you change sunglass lenses? Yes, in the vast majority of cases, and it’s not very difficult.
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Sunglasses are more than just a fashion accessory: they are essential for protecting our eyes from the effects of UV rays, both in summer and winter. You can even have prescription sunglass lenses that will do the same job as regular prescription glasses.
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Whether it's to replace damaged lenses, change tints, change prescriptions, or switch to photochromic or polarized lenses, you can carry out the operation yourself with minimal equipment. But don't hesitate to go through a professional if needed.
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Finally, in case changing to new lenses is not possible, we remind you that there are even 100% anti-UV, anti-reflective, and anti-blue light sunglasses that are effective and stylish (just saying, but I’m saying it anyway…)
