MICHAEL / Sunglasses & Driving
Prescription Sunglasses vs. Driving Lenses Comparison Guide
Compare MICHAEL Optical’s all-inclusive Day & Night Driving Lenses (US$32–US$39), Polarized Glare-Blocking Sunglasses (from +US$45), Colored Sun Tints and Photochromic lenses for road and outdoor clarity.
Which road & outdoor lens matches your driving routine?
Different lighting conditions on the road require distinct optical filtering. Because car windshields block most UV rays, standard UV-activated photochromic lenses remain mostly clear inside a vehicle—making dedicated Driving Lenses or Polarized Prescription Sunglasses essential for regular commuters:
| Lens Package | Single Vision Price | Progressive Price | Readers / Non-Rx Price | Best Road & Outdoor Use Case |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dedicated Driving Lenses | US$32 (1.50) · US$36 (1.61) · US$39 (1.67) | US$32 (1.50) · US$36 (1.61) · US$39 (1.67) | Readers: US$35–US$85 · Non-Rx: US$32 | Day & night driving, rain, dusk, tunnels and oncoming LED headlight glare. |
| Polarized Sunglasses | US$45 (1.56) · US$50 (1.61) · US$65 (1.61 Pro) · US$90 (1.67) | US$94 (1.56) · US$99 (1.61) · US$114 (1.61 Pro) · US$129 (1.67) | Non-Rx: US$40 (Not offered on Readers) | Bright daytime highway driving, wet road reflection cut, beach and water sports. |
| Colored Sun Tints (Classic & Custom) | US$45–US$90 (1.56 to 1.67) | US$94–US$129 (1.56 to 1.67) | Readers: US$40–US$90 · Non-Rx: US$40 | Full-time outdoor UV400 sunglasses in Grey, Brown, Green, Purple, Pink or Blue (supports High-CYL down to -6.00 D). |
| Photochromic (Light-Adaptive) | US$40–US$130 (1.56 to 1.74) | US$94–US$178 (1.56 to 1.74) | Readers: US$35–US$85 · Non-Rx: US$35 | Walking, patio dining and indoor-to-outdoor transitions (stays mostly clear behind UV-shielded car windshields). |
Smart two-pair strategy for drivers
Many MICHAEL customers keep a dedicated pair of Driving Lenses (complete pair from US$57.70 before shipping: US$25.70 frame + US$32 1.50 Driving lenses) or Polarized Sunglasses (complete pair from US$70.70 before shipping: US$25.70 frame + US$45 1.56 Polarized lenses) in their vehicle’s glove box alongside their everyday indoor glasses. Wide-field frames like MICHAEL EM8804 (52 mm Double-Bridge), MICHAEL 2622 (52 mm Square) and MICHAEL 8836 (52 mm Oval) provide generous peripheral coverage for checking mirrors and blind spots.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between MICHAEL Driving Lenses and Polarized Sunglasses?
Dedicated Driving Lenses (US$32–US$39 in 1.50–1.67) use a high-transmission anti-glare filter engineered for both daytime roads and night/rain headlight glare. Polarized Sunglasses (US$45–US$90 Single Vision; US$94–US$129 Progressive) are dark outdoor sun lenses with a horizontal polarizing filter for bright daytime sun, water and snow.
Why is Progressive Driving priced at US$32–US$39 while Progressive Polarized is US$94–US$129?
Under MICHAEL’s confirmed customer schedule, Dedicated Driving (1.50 US$32, 1.61 US$36, 1.67 US$39) is offered at a flat all-inclusive package rate across both Single Vision and Progressive to make safe road vision accessible, whereas Progressive Polarized combines the US$69 progressive sun function fee with the +US$25 to +US$60 progressive index fee.
Can I order Prescription Colored Sun Tints if my astigmatism CYL is between -4.25 and -6.00 D?
Yes. While Polarized and Driving packages cap CYL at -4.00 D, custom Colored Sun Tints (in Grey, Brown, Green, Purple, Pink or Blue across 1.56, 1.61, 1.61 Pro and 1.67) support CYL down to -6.00 D at US$0 extra fee.