DC · MD · VACall Now
Designer Sunglasses

Prescription sunglasses that cut the glare.

Polarized, photochromic, mirrored, gradient - paired with the designer frames we stock. We match the lens to the way you actually live and verify every pair before you walk out. One pair built for the sun, fitted to your face.

Find your nearest VoorthuisAre they worth it? ↓
A man wearing designer prescription sunglasses fitted at Voorthuis Opticians.
From our patients
I stopped in to get my sunglasses adjusted and a really nice gentleman helped me. Great customer service - I will be back when my prescription needs renewing.
Bethel · Old Town Alexandria
Best of Bethesda award
Best place to buy eyeglassesEvery year since 2018!
8Neighborhood locations
53Years serving the DMV
35+High-end designs
A Voorthuis optician helping a customer choose sunglasses by the display wall
Why people choose Voorthuis for sunglasses

Sunglasses that earn their place on your face.

A great pair of prescription sunglasses is part lens engineering, part frame fit, part lifestyle match. All three have to come together, and that's the work we do.

i.

Decades of optical craft

Voorthuis opticians have fitted sunglasses for Washington-area families since 1973. We have met every prescription challenge a high-wrap sport frame can throw, most of them more than once.

ii.

Designer frames you can try on

Maui Jim, Tom Ford, Oliver Peoples, and more. Chosen for optical quality and frame durability, not formulary contracts. You see the full collection in person at our designer eyewear hub.

iii.

Lifestyle-matched recommendations

The right lens for a Beltway commuter is not the right lens for a weekend sailor. We ask how you spend your time outdoors before we pick a tint, polarization level, or frame wrap.

Sunglass lens technologies

Pick the lens for how you see the sun.

Every lens technology solves a different problem: glare, changing light, true color, or all-day comfort. Here is what each one is built for, so you can match it to how you spend your time outdoors.

01.

Polarized

A filter built into the lens blocks horizontal glare bouncing off roads, water, and car hoods. The first choice for driving the GW Parkway, sailing the Chesapeake, or any sport on a reflective surface.

02.

Photochromic

Lenses that darken in sunlight and clear up indoors, one pair for a Metro commute and an afternoon in direct sun. The trade-off: most photochromics stay clear inside a car, where the windshield blocks the UV that triggers them.

03.

Mirror coatings

A reflective layer on the lens exterior cuts the light reaching your eyes, useful for snow, open water, or bright altitude. Pairs well with polarization for the brightest conditions.

04.

Gradient tints

Darker at the top, lighter at the bottom, cutting overhead glare while keeping the dashboard, your phone, or a menu readable. A favorite on fashion-forward frames.

05.

Anti-reflective backing

Applied to the back of the lens to stop the sun behind you bouncing into your eyes. Standard on our prescription sunglasses, where it does the quiet work most pairs skip.

06.

Full UV 400 protection

Every pair blocks 100% of UVA and UVB up to 400 nanometers (the wavelengths linked to cataracts) baked into the lens material rather than applied as a coating that wears off. No upcharge.

A complete guide

Are prescription sunglasses worth it?

The case for a dedicated pair (over clip-ons, fit-overs, or contacts with drugstore shades) and how to choose a lens that suits the light you actually live in.

Find your nearest Voorthuis
Colorful designer sunglasses on acrylic risers in a Voorthuis window display

Why a dedicated pair beats the workarounds

Clip-ons add weight and scratch the very lenses they sit on. Fit-overs leak light at the edges and limit which frames you can wear. Contacts plus drugstore shades leave you squinting at anything detailed. A pair built for your prescription holds clarity across the entire lens, gives you full peripheral vision, and sits comfortably because it was fitted to your face. You feel the difference the first afternoon you wear them.

Polarized vs. non-polarized

Polarization is a filter that kills horizontal glare, the harsh, flat light that bounces off wet pavement on the GW Parkway, the surface of the Chesapeake, or the hood of the car ahead of you. If you drive, boat, golf, or fish, polarized lenses are the answer: they cut that glare and let you see into the water or down the fairway. The one trade-off is that some LCD screens (a few dashboards and phones) can dim at certain angles. For everyday city wear where glare is less of an issue, a quality non-polarized tint is fine.

UV protection matters year-round in DC

Ultraviolet light does not take winters off, and up to 80% of it still reaches you through cloud cover. Cumulative UV exposure raises the long-term risk of cataracts (a clouding of the eye's lens) and macular degeneration. Every pair we fit blocks 100% of UV up to 400 nanometers, built into the lens material rather than applied as a coating that wears off.

The brands worth starting with

For polarized performance, Maui Jim and its PolarizedPlus2 lens are where we point most patients first - it can be made in your prescription. Tom Ford and Oliver Peoples carry the same craft into frames that read dressier. Those are three of more than thirty designer houses on the wall - browse the full collection on our designer eyewear hub, then bring the frame back here for prescription sun lenses.

Darker isn't sharper. A tint's job is contrast. Brown and copper tints lift definition on the road or the fairway; grey keeps colors true. The right tint depends on what you're looking at, so match it to the conditions you spend time in.
A patient story

Glasses, sunglasses, and contacts, the full package.

Some patients come in for one thing and discover they can solve everything in one place. At our Bradley Shopping Center store in Bethesda, one such patient left with prescription glasses for the office, prescription sunglasses for outdoors, and contacts for the weekends, all measured against a single, current prescription by the same team.

"Great experience here," he wrote afterward, "with prescription glasses, prescription sunglasses, and contacts. The full package - and super friendly staff."

G. · Bradley Shopping Center, Bethesda

Prescription sunglasses vs. photochromic

One pair that does both, or two purpose-built pairs?

What mattersPrescription sunglassesPhotochromic everyday lenses
Best forDriving, water, golf, bright sunOne pair for indoor/outdoor days
Glare off roads & waterPolarized, cuts it at the sourceDarkens, but does not polarize
Behavior in the carStays dark, kills hood glareStays mostly clear (windshield blocks UV)
IndoorsStays dark, it's a sun pairClears up automatically
How many pairsA dedicated second pairOne pair covers most of the day

For driving and time on the water, dedicated polarized prescription sunglasses win, because nothing else cuts glare the same way. If you want one pair that adapts from desk to sidewalk, photochromic lenses are the move; you can read more about them in our prescription lens guide. Many patients end up with both, on the same prescription.

What to expect

How we build your prescription sunglasses.

What happens from the moment you walk in. We match the lens to how you spend your time outdoors, then verify every pair before pickup.

Find your nearest Voorthuis
  1. 01

    Prescription check

    If your last exam was over twelve months ago, we start with a comprehensive eye exam with our on-site optometrist, including a sun-specific conversation about UV exposure and how you spend time outdoors.

  2. 02

    Lifestyle conversation

    Driving, sport, water, fashion, light sensitivity, frame preferences. Ten to fifteen minutes that shape every recommendation that follows. The right lens for a Beltway commuter differs from the one a weekend sailor needs.

  3. 03

    Frame selection

    Based on your face measurements, prescription, and style, we narrow the wall to a curated selection of frames you actually try on. An optician with years of experience helps you decide.

  4. 04

    Lens demo

    Polarized, photochromic, mirror, gradient, and tint colors compared side by side with sample lenses. We explain the trade-offs for your specific use so the choice is yours with full information.

  5. 05

    Order, verify, fit

    Most pairs are ready in seven to ten business days. We inspect every lens against your prescription before pickup, adjust the frame to your face, and welcome you back any time for a free re-adjustment.

Cost & insurance

Transparent, no insurance shortcuts.

Voorthuis does not bill vision insurance, on purpose. That is what lets our opticians spend real time with you and recommend the right lens for your eyes, whatever a formulary covers.

Pricing comes down to three things: the frame brand and material, the lens design and treatments (polarization, photochromic, mirror, or a custom gradient), and your prescription strength (a strong Rx benefits from thin high-index material).

We provide a detailed itemized quote before you commit, broken down by frame, lens, and each coating. You see exactly what you are paying for.

We accept FSA and HSA, offer interest-free payment plans, and provide itemized invoices for out-of-network reimbursement.

In their own words

What patients say about their sunglasses.

The staff are knowledgeable, patient, and take the time to answer questions. My glasses were ready ahead of schedule, and I loved the selection of frames and sunglasses.
Erika H. · Montgomery Mall
The service is outstanding and friendly, with an exceptional selection of prescription eyewear and sunglasses.
David M. · Old Town Alexandria
Decent prices on sunglasses - I found a pair for $280 that I had seen at another store for $350.
Rachel I. · Connecticut Avenue
Frequently asked

Sunglass questions, plainly answered.

Can I get my exact eyeglass prescription in sunglasses?
Yes. Any prescription that works in standard eyeglasses, including single vision, bifocal, and progressive, can be fitted into sunglass frames. High-wrap sport frames sometimes require a curved lens design or insert, which we handle routinely.
What is the difference between polarized and photochromic lenses?
Polarized lenses block horizontal glare from roads, water, and other reflective surfaces and stay dark. Photochromic lenses darken in UV and clear up indoors. Polarized is the right pick for driving and water. Photochromic suits people who move between indoor and outdoor settings throughout the day.
Are prescription sunglasses worth it compared to clip-ons or fit-overs?
Dedicated prescription sunglasses give sharper optics, better peripheral vision, and a comfortable fit. Clip-ons add weight and scratch the lenses they sit on. Fit-overs allow light leakage at the edges and limit frame style. A pair built for your face holds clarity across the entire lens.
How long does it take to get prescription sunglasses?
Most pairs are ready within 7 to 10 business days. Complex prescriptions, certain lens treatments, or limited-edition frames may extend that slightly. We call as soon as your sunglasses arrive for a final fitting.
Do polarized lenses work with all prescriptions?
Yes. The polarizing filter is embedded in the lens material and does not affect prescription accuracy. Strong prescriptions benefit from high-index polarized lenses to keep the lens thin while preserving full glare reduction.
Does Voorthuis accept vision insurance for sunglasses?
No. We chose to stay outside insurance networks so opticians can recommend the right lens and frame for your eyes and lifestyle without restrictions. We accept FSA and HSA, provide itemized invoices for out-of-network reimbursement, and offer payment plans.
Can I get prescription sunglasses for golf, cycling, or other sports?
Yes. We fit sport-specific frames with curved-lens prescriptions. Rose or amber tints help with ball tracking on the course. Lightweight wrap frames with secure temple grips work for cycling and running. Maui Jim and other performance brands in our collection are designed for this.
How do I choose the right lens color?
Gray gives the most natural color perception and works for driving and general use. Brown and amber boost contrast and depth, which suits golf, fishing, and trails. Green reduces glare while preserving color. Rose lifts contrast in low light. We compare tints side by side during your fitting.
Do photochromic lenses darken in the car?
Most do not, because windshields block the UV that triggers the change. If you want sunglasses for driving, polarized prescription sunglasses or a dedicated tinted pair is the better choice. We can fit both photochromic everyday glasses and polarized driving sunglasses on the same prescription.
How much do prescription sunglasses cost at Voorthuis?
Pricing depends on the frame, lens design, material, and coatings. Single vision polarized pairs start at one tier, progressive and photochromic options sit higher, and high-index lenses for strong prescriptions add to the cost. We provide a detailed itemized quote before you commit.
Our Services

Meticulous attention for every vision need.

A 45-minute appointment.

Eye Exams →

Comprehensive, unhurried exams with an on-site optometrist - the time your eyes actually need.

Fitted by hand.

Prescription Lenses →

Progressive, single vision, computer, and specialty lenses - measured, selected, and verified by an experienced optician.

Fitted to your eyes.

Contact Lenses →

Soft, hard, multifocal, and toric contact lens fittings. Trial lenses, insertion training, and follow-up included.

Designer & prescription.

Sunglasses

Maui Jim, Oliver Peoples, Robert Marc, Brunello Cucinelli and more - in clear, polarized, photochromic, and prescription.

Specialty care, not just drops.

Dry Eyes Treatment →

Doctor-led tear-film evaluation, meibomian gland assessment, prescription therapy, IPL, and RF treatments - built around a real diagnosis.

Walk-in repair & care.

Repair & Adjustments →

Eyeglass repair, free lifetime adjustments on Voorthuis frames, screw and nose pad replacement, and ultrasonic cleaning - usually while you wait.

DC · MD · VA

Find your Voorthuis.

Call your nearest Voorthuis to choose prescription sunglasses with an on-site optometrist.

Foxhall Square
3301 New Mexico Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20016
(202) 363-5087Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Connecticut Avenue
1035 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20036
(202) 833-9455Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Old Town Alexandria
530 King Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-3822Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Wildwood
10231 Old Georgetown Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 530-6266Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Bradley
6912 Arlington Road
Bethesda, MD 20814
(301) 718-9300Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Montgomery Mall
7101 Democracy Boulevard
Bethesda, MD 20817
(301) 469-9058Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Chevy Chase
5454 Wisconsin Avenue
Chevy Chase, MD 20815
(301) 656-2453Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →
Westbard Square
5372 Westbard Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20816
(301) 652-6490Hours & directions →View on Google Maps →