I'm a Former Optician — These Are the 9 Best Sunglasses, Tested and Ophthalmologist-Approved

It’s easy to think a good pair of sunglasses is mostly about how they fit and look on your face. But as a former optician, I can tell you that the right pair should also protect your eyes from harmful UV rays. And unfortunately, you can’t tell how much protection a pair offers just by looking at the lenses.

“In clinical settings, it is common for patients to present with eye conditions that could have been prevented, or at least significantly reduced, through consistent use of proper UV-protective eyewear,” says Karen Allison, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist on the Prevent Blindness board and an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Rochester Medicine’s Flaum Eye Institute in Rochester, New York.

Dr. Allison says one of the biggest misconceptions people have when buying sunglasses is that darker lenses automatically provide better UV protection. They don’t. In fact, “a pair of inexpensive, dark-tinted glasses without proper UV protection can be more harmful than wearing no sunglasses at all, because the darkness causes the pupils to dilate, allowing even more damaging rays to enter the eye,” she says.

To help you find the best sunglasses for your needs and budget, our editorial team tested some of the most popular frames and consulted three board-certified ophthalmologists. Here are the pairs we recommend.

• Best splurge: Westy King First Edition
• Best aviators: Ray-Ban Aviator Max
• Best oversized: Benny’s Ann Sunglasses
• Best classic style: American Optical Alden
• Best for men: Oakley Flak 2.0 XL
• Best polarized: Costa Del Mar Whitetip
• Best lightweight: Burberry BE3074
• Best designer: Miu Miu MU 52YS
• Best for driving: Fuse Egmont Canopy

We tested more than a dozen sunglasses, so of course a couple didn’t make it to our final list of favorites. But some deserve an honorable mention. Here are a few others we liked that we don’t think you’d be disappointed in.

The Eyebobs Overlook Sunglasses are a classic acetate frame with several color options. The upper corners have a slight cat-eye appearance. They can be purchased as reader sunglasses, polarized sunglasses, or with your prescription, and they’ll still have 100-percent UV protection. “They look good on my face, they're lightweight, and they block the sun while letting me see. I particularly like the visibility through these polarized lenses,” says writer and editor Sabrina Rojas Weiss. We found them similar to some of the other frames included on this list, and we wanted to include a little more variety in our main picks.

For something truly unique, WearIQ Bluetooth Smart Sunglasses do more than protect your eyes. Yes, they offer nearly 100-percent UV protection (they’re rated UV400), and yes, they’re polarized. But they’ll also allow you to answer calls, listen to music, and access your voice assistant. These connect to your phone via Bluetooth, giving you up to 10 hours of battery life for all the above. “I think it's cool that you can talk on the phone and listen to music through your sunglasses,” says Klausner. However, she says they took some getting used to, and she got a headache while wearing them; this may not be the case for every user, though.

Our team of editors and writers tested 14 pairs of sunglasses in real life, wearing them for tasks like errands, driving, travel, and even mowing. We evaluated how each frame fit, along with lens clarity, glare reduction, comfort, durability, and overall style.

Our testing group included people with a wide range of face shapes and head sizes, which is important because fit plays a major role in both comfort and performance.

We also consulted three board-certified ophthalmologists for guidance on lens technology and frame fit. The experts we consulted include:

• Karen Allison, MD, an associate professor of clinical ophthalmology at the University of Rochester Health’s Flaum Eye Institute in Rochester, New York, and a Prevent Blindness board member
• Andrew Lee, MD, Centennial Chair of Ophthalmology at the Blanton Eye Institute at Houston Methodist Hospital in Houston
• Dagny Zhu, MD, a board-certified ophthalmologist who specializes in cornea, cataract, and refractive surgery at NVISION Eye Centers in Rowland Heights, California

As a former private-practice optician, I helped patients choose frames based on their face shapes and individual needs. I leaned on my experience to ensure that our recommendations for the best sunglasses work in real-life situations for a wide range of people. Combined with hands-on testing and input from the experts above, we narrowed our list to the top contenders.

When you’re shopping for a new pair of sunglasses, it's a good idea to think about some other things along with your budget. These factors include how much protection the lenses offer and how well the frames fit your face. Here’s what to look for:

• UV Protection Choose lenses labeled as blocking 100 percent of UVA/UVB rays, sometimes listed as UV400. While darker lenses may feel more protective in the sun, UV rays can still pass through them unless the lenses are made with UV-blocking materials or treated with a protective coating.

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• Frame Fit and Coverage A good pair of sunglasses should sit securely on the bridge of your nose without sliding when you move around. If the sunglasses have nose pads, they should sit flush against the sides of your nose bridge without leaving indentations. The temples shouldn’t pinch your face or leave marks on the sides of your head. That said, many sunglasses need an initial adjustment and occasional maintenance (you can see an optician for this) to keep them fitting properly over time. A poor fit can cause discomfort and leave gaps around the frame, allowing more UV rays to reach your eyes.
• Polarization Check whether the lenses are polarized. Research suggests that polarized lenses can reduce glare, improve eye comfort in bright light, and enhance contrast.

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   According to Allison, they’re especially helpful for people who spend a lot of time driving or around water or snow. Keep in mind that polarization is separate from UV protection, though many high-quality lenses offer both.

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• Lens Material Polycarbonate lenses are lightweight, durable, and naturally protect against UV rays, which makes them a popular choice for everyday sunglasses. Glass lenses are still used in some styles, but they’re heavier and less impact-resistant than many newer materials, so they may not feel as practical for daily wear. The extra weight of glass can also make them more likely to slip down your nose. Other common lens materials include plastic, polyamide, and Trivex.

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• Lens Color Lens tint can affect how comfortable your eyes feel and how well you perceive contrast in different lighting conditions.

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   Grey lenses are a great choice for most people, because they can help reduce brightness without much color distortion. Brown or yellow lenses may be useful in low-light conditions, such as fog or clouds. Specialty lenses, like FL-41 (a rose-colored tint), may help reduce pain in people with migraine and ocular pain.

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Frame fit affects both comfort and how well your sunglasses perform. An ill-fitting frame can be less comfortable to wear and let more sunlight reach your eyes. According to Dr. Lee, a well-fitting pair of sunglasses should:

• Provide strong protection from the sun and harmful UV rays.
• Feel secure against your head without pinching or creating pressure behind your ears.
• Sit comfortably on the bridge of your nose without sliding down when you tilt your head or start to sweat.

Lee also recommends doing a simple, at-home fit check: “Put on the glasses and move your head slowly from side to side and up and down. If the frames shift significantly or slide down your nose, they are likely too large or require adjustment by an optician.”

In many cases, an optician can make small adjustments to the temples or nose pads to help your sunglasses fit better. Many shops offer this service for free or for a small fee, even if you didn’t buy the frames there.

Lens color is mostly about visual comfort and contrast. Zhu says that lens tint and color don’t affect UV protection. “Certain tints help patients see better at night by reducing light sensitivity from halos and glare — for example, yellow-tinted or FL 41-tinted glasses.”

For everyday sunglasses, grey lenses are often the most popular choice, because they’re neutral and preserve color perception well. However, brown and amber lenses can enhance contrast and depth perception, which may be especially helpful for driving and other outdoor activities.

Once that box is checked, you can choose a lens color and extra features, like polarization or anti-reflective coatings, based on how and where you plan to wear them. Those add-ons can help reduce glare and make it easier to see clearly in bright or reflective conditions.

Yes, and you need it all year long — not just in the summer.

“UV radiation penetrates clouds and reflects off surfaces year-round, making consistent protection essential regardless of season or weather,” says Allison.

Both UVA and UVB rays can damage your eyes, but they do so in different ways. “UVB rays can cause more immediate damage, like a ‘sunburn’ to the eye, while UVA rays tend to cause slower damage over time (i.e., cataracts and retinal damage),” says Zhu. “Both are harmful and require daily protection.”