How to Choose Sunglasses That Work for You | Michigan Eye Consultants

Most People Pick Sunglasses for All the Wrong Reasons

Here's something I tell patients all the time: the sunglasses that look the best in the store mirror aren't always the ones that work best for you. Most people choose a pair based on a five-second glance — does it look good, is it on sale, does a friend have the same one. Face shape, lens tint, and whether the lenses actually match how you use your eyes day to day rarely come into it.

The result is a drawer full of sunglasses that never quite get worn. Maybe the glare on the lake is just as bad with them on. Maybe they slide down your nose on a run. Maybe you still squint behind the wheel at sunset because the tint isn't doing what you assumed it would.
 

If You've Ever Bought the “Wrong” Pair, You're Not Alone

Patients describe this to us constantly — buying a stylish pair, wearing them twice, and then going back to squinting because the lenses weren't actually doing the job. Or needing a prescription, so the sunglasses get left in the glove box entirely because contacts felt like the only option.

None of that is a personal failing. It's that sunglasses are usually sold as a fashion accessory first and an optical tool second — when really, they should be both at once.
 

What Actually Makes a Pair of Sunglasses “Right”

1. Frame Shape That Fits Your Face
As a general rule, frames work best when they contrast your face shape rather than mirror it:

• Round faces — angular or rectangular frames add definition

• Square or angular faces — round or oval frames soften strong jawlines

• Heart-shaped faces — frames that are wider at the bottom, like aviators, balance a narrower chin

• Oval faces — the most flexible shape; nearly any frame works

This is exactly why we keep a range of brands in the boutique — Scott Harris, INVU, and AO Eyewear all fit differently, so there's a real option for every face shape, not just one “standard” fit.

2. The Right Lens Tint for How You Actually Use Them

• Polarized lenses cut glare from flat, reflective surfaces — water, wet roads, snow, the hood of your car. If you're driving, boating, or out on the water often, this is the feature that matters most.

• Mirrored coatings reduce the amount of light entering the lens even further, which is ideal for very bright, high-glare conditions — think a sunny golf course or a day on the lake. It's a style statement too, but the function is real.

• Gradient tints (darker at the top, lighter at the bottom) are built for driving — they block the bright sky overhead while keeping your dashboard visible.
   

All of these are different tools for different days, not just different looks.

3. Prescription and Transition Options
If you wear a prescription, you don't have to choose between seeing clearly and protecting your eyes outdoors. We fit full prescription sunglasses, including polarized and mirrored options, into any frame in the boutique. For patients who move between indoors and outdoors all day, Transition (photochromic) lenses are worth a conversation — they darken automatically outside and clear back up inside, though they won't get as dark behind a car windshield, since most windshields already block the UV that triggers the tint.
 

Financing Your Sunglasses

A complete pair of prescription or boutique sunglasses is an investment, and we want the cost to never be the reason you put off protecting your eyes. We accept CareCredit and Affirm financing, so you can spread the cost of your new pair into manageable monthly payments — just ask our team when you come in for your fitting.
 

Common Questions

Q: Can I get my actual prescription in sunglasses, not just contacts?
A: Yes — we fit full prescription lenses, including polarized and mirrored options, into any frame in our boutique, including Scott Harris, INVU, and AO Eyewear.

Q: What's the real difference between UV protection and polarization?
A: UV protection blocks harmful ultraviolet rays from reaching your eyes — it's a health feature every pair should have. Polarization is separate; it reduces glare from reflective surfaces like water and pavement. A good pair of sunglasses should have both, not one or the other.

Q: Are mirrored lenses just for looks?
A: They add a style element, but the mirror coating also reduces the amount of light passing through the lens, which genuinely helps in very bright, high-glare settings.

Q: Do Transition lenses work as sunglasses in the car?
A: Not fully. Most car windshields already filter out the UV light that triggers the photochromic reaction, so Transition lenses won't get as dark behind the wheel as they do outdoors. For driving, we typically recommend a dedicated pair of polarized sunglasses.

Q: Do you accept insurance for sunglasses?
A: Michigan Eye Consultants is a medical optometry practice. If you carry vision insurance, we will submit a courtesy out-of-network claim on your behalf — we handle the paperwork so you can take advantage of any reimbursement benefits your plan allows. We also accept CareCredit and Affirm financing to spread the cost into monthly payments.

Q: How do I know what frame shape actually fits my face?
A: That's exactly what your fitting is for. Our team will walk through a few shapes with you in person — it's a lot easier to see what works once you're trying them on than to guess from a mirror at home.
 

Ready to Find Your Pair?

Whether you need a fresh prescription pair, a polarized everyday pair, or just want to see the new Scott Harris, INVU, and AO Eyewear arrivals in person, our team is ready to help you find sunglasses that actually work for your face and your life — not just the mirror.
 

A Note on Insurance & Out-of-Network Benefits

Michigan Eye Consultants is a medical optometry practice — we bill medical insurance for covered services. If you carry vision insurance, we are happy to submit a courtesy out-of-network claim on your behalf so you can take full advantage of any reimbursement benefits your plan provides. We encourage every patient to use those benefits — our team will handle the submission for you so there’s nothing extra on your end.

We also accept CareCredit and Affirm financing, so you can spread the cost of your new pair into manageable monthly payments. Just ask our team at your fitting.

Book your sunglasses fitting: www.michiganeyeconsultants.com/mecappt.html
Call or Text: 586-302-3222
Visit us: 29273 Dequindre Rd, Madison Heights, MI 48071
Serving Madison Heights, Troy, Royal Oak, Birmingham, and surrounding Metro Detroit communities.