If you wear prescription glasses or contacts because your vision is less than 20/20, then you know that having a good pair of polarized sunglasses for fishing is a luxury. Prescription glasses are generally not very cheap, and buying another more expensive pair just to wear when you fish or drive a boat is a lot to ask for folks.

But, while a bit more in cost, they are a very worthwhile investment, especially if you can find a company that offers high end frames and lenses at a more competitive price point. A good pair of prescription polarized sunglasses can last a long time, save you from cataracts and eye fatigue and also keep you very comfortable and efficient on the water.

The big considerations when deciding on a pair of prescription polarized sunglasses include the following:

• Price
• Fit
• Prescription Level
• Lens Features

This article will cover all of the considerations when deciding on a pair of prescription polarized sunglasses for fishing and outdoor pursuits as well as offer suggestions on how Island Optics can provide you with the best possible options from price to performance in prescription sunglasses.

BENEFITS OF PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES 

Many anglers I know took to wearing contacts to simply be able to wear good sunglasses while fishing. That's largely due to the fact that forever, prescription eye glasses were very expensive. So to make a second pair with polarized lenses just for fishing was a no go for most anglers, myself included.

Allen Alovis actually convinced me to get a pair of prescription sunglasses because they could make an affordable pair. Now after a year of wearing prescription sunglasses from Island Optics, I hardly ever wear contacts anymore.

Prescription sunglasses offer many benefits over wearing sunglasses with contacts.

Some of these advantages include but are not limited to the following:

• Improved Vision
• Reduced eye fatigue
• Reduction of dryness in eyes
• Better clarity under the waters surface
• No additional need for readers (for nearsighted folks)

Wearing prescription sunglasses seems to cut down the eye strain and you are less likely to encounter symptoms like dry eyes and redness. Contacts are inherently more dangerous because you have to put your hands in your eyes to apply them and take them out and if you are hands are not cleaned and the lenses not cleaned you are more likely to get an eye infection.

 SUPERIOR EYE PROTECTION WITH PRESCRIPTION

While polarized sunglasses do offer an ability to see into the water by reducing glare caused by the suns reflection, they aptly are said to be "sunscreen for your eyes" protecting you from harmful sun rays. While cheap "tinted" sunglasses often don't offer UV protection which is what is harmful to your eyes, good polarized fishing sunglasses offer UVA and UVB protection, polarization to cut down glare, oleophobic, hydrophobic and other coatings to keep your view clean and clear and protected.

But the prescription version of sunglasses offers a better option than contacts and sunglasses for anglers who have less than 20/20 vision and older anglers as our eyesight naturally degrades. You get all of the harmful ray protection, the protection from dryness, and possible infection from contact as well as the physical protection sunglasses can offer from bugs or dust in the air blowing into your eyes.

And the more protected your eyes are the longer you can spend stalking and catching fish and being more keenly aware of the environments you are fishing. I can't tell you how many times, spotting something under the water has turned a good fishing day great. Seeing bait, or fish or a key piece of cover gives you advantages over poor quality sunglass wearers.

PRESCRIPTION POLARIZED SUNGLASSES EXPERIENCE

I had not worn prescription sunglasses for fishing until 2024. I got my first pair from Island Optics and it changed my whole outlook on wearing glasses versus wearing contacts. Because I had a high quality pair of prescription sunglasses, I started wearing my everyday prescription eyeglasses more. As a result my vision improved in both eyes over the last year. And I have suffered a lot less headaches and eye fatigue as I spend a lot more hours on the water and outside than the average weekend angler. I travel, fish and film outside for the better part of the year. So I constantly wear sunglasses.

I will go as far as saying I'm seeing better into the water with prescription sunglasses. That's a subjective measurement at best but I had to use readers with contacts to be able to see up close and even then it was a lot of straining to get the distance right. And I would come off the water some days just wanting to close my eyes for hours afterwards.

Now I spend all day peering into the water and feel like I see better on the water and off the water when I get home. It just feels like I have not had to work my eyes as hard as a result of investing in prescription sunglasses.

I spent a little more to get high index lenses to lighten the weight and because my prescription is so strong, but even with that extra option, their prescription sunglasses were almost $200 less than comparable prescription sunglasses.

QUALITY LENSES FROM KNOWN EYECARE PROS

The family business of Island Optics has an extensive knowledge of eyewear. And they have done extensive research on available materials and technologies to be able to offer high quality lenses in well made frames to give anglers better sunglasses at a better price. But they are also focused on all anglers of all eyesight levels because their family knows prescription eyewear extensively. They can draw from decades of prescription eyewear experience and business contacts to source the best materials and innovations in light penetration color options, protective coatings, and much more.

Their lenses feature protective coatings to resist scratching, resist finger prints and smudges from sweat, and whisk away water, sand and more with ease. They block all of the harmful UVA and UVB lightwaves to save your eyes from cataracts or macular degeneration. They offer multiple colors of lenses to help you see in various water colors and sunlight penetrations.

They offer several options of stylish frames and mirror finishes. So you not only have all of the functional protection, but look good too. Their frames offer large options and regular options for different sized faces. They offer lots of high-end features like no-slip nose pads, comfortable arm pads that keep your sunglasses straight on your face, vented sides to reduce fogging and moisture on the inside of the lenses and flexible dual hinges to offer all anglers a good fit.

Island Optics wants to be known for offering the best prices on high quality prescription polarized fishing sunglasses, and they want to earn your business with better care and service on their current and new introductions in 2025.