Why Investing in a Pair of Pricey Sunglasses Will Actually Save You More Money in the Long Run

Moneymagpie Team 27th Sep 2023 No Comments

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Sunglasses are essential to improve your style for any occasion. But aside from being fashionable, they offer practical benefits, too. Although some of the world’s best sunglasses are expensive, investing in them can actually save you money in the long run.

To put it into perspective, the average Brit spends £120 on a single pair of eyeglasses. That might seem like a hefty price tag, but investing in a suitable pair helps preserve long-term vision and avoid health complications like persistent headaches, thereby decreasing medical expenses. The same is true for sunglasses, too. Although pricier, reliable brands offer practical and health benefits that help you save on costs in the years to come. Here are some ways they can do that.

Durability
Versatility
Better protection

Durability

Often, established eyewear brands raise their prices to accommodate advanced technologies that ensure greater durability. So, instead of constantly spending more money to replace cheap pairs that break easily, you enjoy long-term use.

Just look at William Painter: its Japanese Nylon polarised lenses are the most scratch-resistant in the industry. They neutralise glare and improve clarity, making them suitable for driving, watersports, and winter sports. They also offer incredible impact protection that helps them last longer and can withstand breakage even if you drop them in the middle of your activities. Heavy-duty lenses like these provide better protection against common eye safety hazards, like flying chips of wood or metal, so you can use them in activities other than sports. Ultimately, that means a pair of pricey sunglasses will last you a long time—even if your lifestyle involves a lot of unpredictable factors.

Versatility

Although good sunglasses are more expensive, their price tag comes with various lens options to suit your lifestyle and target different activities, meaning just one pair can meet all your vision needs. For instance, polarised lenses are perfect for outdoor activities because of glare reduction and improved sharpness. Meanwhile, gradient sunglasses allow you to see indoors while providing sun protection thanks to their lenses’ lighter tone.

Some brands also offer specialised lenses. Sports eyewear brand Oakley uses different colours for their Prizm lenses that enhance vision depending on your environment—whether snow, trails, or water. Finally, you can choose prescription sunglasses, which lets you enjoy vision correction needs and UV protection at the same time. Ray-Ban offers these on its iconic Aviator and Wayfarer frames, so you can elevate your style while receiving comfort, quality, and improved vision. With a range of lens options included when you invest in pricey sunglasses, you can choose the best variation to suit your lifestyle so you can wear the same pair for a versatile range of situations.

Better protection

Sunglasses help protect you against overexposure to UV rays that heighten your risk of developing long-term eye conditions like eye cancers, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration. Although pricier, a reliable pair of UV-protected sunglasses effectively filters out solar radiation, thereby protecting your eyes and the thin and sensitive skin surrounding them. Look for UV400 marks that provide 99% to 100% UV protection, as well as CE or UKCA marks that indicate compliance with health, safety, and environmental regulations.

One brand that offers this guarantee is Prada. Known for style and innovation, its sunglasses always feature UKCA or CE marks and guarantee 100% UV protection. That’s how you know that they effectively filter out solar radiation and reduce the risk of eye health problems. Brands like these allow you to make the most of your purchase since you can marry style with health. More importantly, wearing such protective sunglasses means you can be proactive about your eyesight and avoid having to obtain costly treatments—such as cataract removal—in the future.

Your eyes deserve the best protection there is. Although reliable eyewear brands can be expensive, their guaranteed quality can help you save money in the long run.

Disclaimer: MoneyMagpie is not a licensed financial advisor and therefore information found here including opinions, commentary, suggestions or strategies are for informational, entertainment or educational purposes only. This should not be considered as financial advice. Anyone thinking of investing should conduct their own due diligence.