Do Clip-On Sunglasses Work With Progressive or Bifocal Lenses?

If you wear progressive or bifocal lenses, getting sunglasses is more complicated. A second pair of progressive prescription sunglasses can be costly, and every new prescription means replacing them. That's why many people with multifocal lenses ask: do clip-on sunglasses work with my glasses?

The short answer is yes.

Why clip-ons work with any lens type

A clip-on doesn't contain a prescription. It's a tinted layer that sits in front of your glasses. Your vision correction, whether single-vision, bifocal, trifocal, or progressive, still comes from your own lenses. The clip-on simply reduces the light reaching them.

That means you keep the exact lenses you've already adjusted to, including the reading area at the bottom of a progressive or bifocal lens.

Why fit matters more with progressives

With progressive and bifocal lenses, you use the full height of the lens: distance vision near the top and reading vision near the bottom. A clip-on that's too small, or sits crooked, can leave part of the lens uncovered, so your reading zone is suddenly bright and glary while the rest is tinted.

A custom clip-on is cut to your frame's exact shape, so it covers the whole lens evenly, top to bottom, with no bright gaps.

Benefits for multifocal wearers

• Lower cost: no second pair of progressive lenses to buy
• Prescription changes are easy: keep the same frame and your clip-on still fits
• No re-adjusting: you keep the progressive lenses your eyes are used to
• Full coverage: a custom shape tints the entire lens, including the reading area

Polarized or non-polarized?

Both work with progressives and bifocals. Polarized lenses cut glare off roads and water, while non-polarized lenses keep phone and dashboard screens easier to read. Our guide to polarized vs. non-polarized clip-ons walks through the choice.

How to get one

Order online, mail us your glasses, and we'll make your clip-on to fit within 2–4 days of receiving your frame. Shop custom clip-on sunglasses or see how the process works.