Reading by the pool sounds relaxing.
Reading your phone at an outdoor café should be easy.
And checking a menu on holiday really shouldn't require juggling your sunglasses and reading glasses every five minutes.
That's exactly where progressive sun readers come in.
They combine the sun protection and glare reduction you want from sunglasses with reading magnification built discreetly into the lens.
The result?
One pair of glasses for looking around, walking, relaxing - and reading when you need to.
What Are Progressive Sun Readers?
Progressive sun readers are sunglasses designed with different viewing zones within the lens.
Unlike ordinary reading sunglasses, where the entire lens may contain your reading strength, progressive sun readers allow you to look through different areas of the lens depending on what you're doing.
The upper part of the lens is designed for looking into the distance, while your reading magnification is incorporated lower down.
That means you can:
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look across the beach
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walk around comfortably
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enjoy the view
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glance down and read your phone
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check a menu
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read a book or Kindle
…without constantly taking your sunglasses off and putting your readers on.
And because there's no obvious reading segment across the lens, they look like a normal pair of sunglasses.
Progressive Sun Readers vs Ordinary Reading Sunglasses
This is where the difference really matters.
Traditional reading sunglasses generally use your reading magnification across most or all of the lens.
That's useful while you're reading - but considerably less convenient when you look up.
Progressive sun readers are designed to do both.
| Progressive Sun Readers | Full-Lens Reading Sunglasses | |
|---|---|---|
| Read up close | ✓ | ✓ |
| Look into the distance | ✓ | Limited |
| Walk around wearing them | ✓ | Less practical |
| No visible reading line | ✓ | ✓ |
| Convenient for everyday outdoor use | ✓ | Limited |
If you've ever sat outside wearing reading glasses and found everything in the distance blurry when you looked up, you'll understand why progressive lenses can be so useful.
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Why Choose Polarised Progressive Sun Readers?
Progressive lenses solve the reading problem.
Polarisation solves the glare problem.
Bright sunlight reflecting from roads, water and other surfaces can create uncomfortable glare.
Polarised lenses are designed to reduce that reflected glare, making them particularly useful around water, at the beach, while travelling and during everyday outdoor activities.
Combine polarisation with progressive reading magnification and you have a pair of sunglasses designed for the way you actually spend time outdoors.
Where Do Progressive Sun Readers Really Come Into Their Own?
Reading by the pool
This might be their perfect use.
Read your book or Kindle, look up to talk to someone, check what's happening around you and go straight back to reading.
No glasses swap required.
Outdoor cafés
If you've reached the stage where restaurant menus seem to be getting mysteriously smaller every year, you know the routine.
Sunglasses off.
Readers on.
Read menu.
Readers off.
Sunglasses back on.
Progressive sun readers make the whole thing considerably easier.
Beach holidays
Book. Phone. Cocktail menu. Hotel map. Boarding pass.
Holidays involve a surprising amount of reading.
Having one pair of sunglasses that lets you see both your surroundings and the things immediately in front of you makes travelling much simpler.
Boating and days around the water
Water produces significant reflected glare, which is where polarised lenses really earn their place.
Add reading magnification and you can easily check your phone, read instructions or look at something close up without reaching for another pair of glasses.
Weekend sport
Watching from the sidelines?
You can follow what's happening on the field and still read your phone when someone messages asking where you're sitting.
A small thing, perhaps.
But extremely convenient.
Who Are Progressive Reading Sunglasses For?
They're particularly useful if you need reading glasses for close-up tasks but don't otherwise need your reading magnification while looking into the distance.
If you regularly find yourself taking sunglasses off to put reading glasses on when you're outdoors, you're exactly the person they're designed for.
They're also a great option if you:
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spend a lot of time outdoors
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travel frequently
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love reading outside
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spend weekends near the water
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eat at outdoor cafés and restaurants
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want fewer pairs of glasses to carry around
Essentially, they're for anyone who would rather enjoy the sunshine than organise their eyewear.
Are Progressive Sun Readers the Same as Prescription Progressives?
No.
This is an important distinction.
Ready-to-wear progressive sun readers use a set reading magnification rather than an individual prescription.
If you require prescription correction for distance vision, astigmatism or have more complex vision requirements, you should speak with your optometrist about prescription sunglasses.
But if you normally use ready-made reading glasses and can see comfortably into the distance without them, progressive sun readers can be an extremely convenient outdoor option.
What Strength Progressive Sun Readers Should I Choose?
Generally, you should choose the reading strength you would normally use for the same close-up task.
For example, if you normally read comfortably in +1.50 reading glasses, you would usually start by considering +1.50 sun readers.
Ministry of Sight's Lumière Polarised Sun Readers are available from +0.50 through to +3.00, so you can choose the magnification that suits your usual reading needs.
If you're unsure which strength you need, our Reading Glasses Strength Guide can help you narrow it down.
Do Progressive Sun Readers Take Time to Get Used To?
They can.
Because different parts of a progressive lens are designed for different viewing distances, your eyes need to learn where to look through the lens.
When reading, you'll naturally look through the lower section.
When looking into the distance, you'll look through the upper section.
For many people this quickly becomes intuitive, but give yourself a little time to get used to your new lenses rather than expecting them to feel exactly like ordinary sunglasses immediately.
What Should You Look for When Buying Sun Readers?
Not all reading sunglasses are created equal.
Look beyond magnification alone.
A good pair of progressive sun readers should combine:
Polarised lenses
To help reduce harsh reflected glare.
UV protection
Because sunglasses should do more than simply make things look darker.
Progressive reading magnification
So you can move between distance and close-up viewing without constantly changing glasses.
Comfortable frames
Particularly important because these are glasses you'll potentially wear for hours.
A frame you actually like wearing
Because practical eyewear doesn't need to look practical.
Meet Lumière: Polarised Progressive Sun Readers
We created Lumière for exactly these moments.
They're premium polarised progressive sun readers designed to look like the sunglasses you'd choose even if you didn't need readers.
The progressive lenses allow you to look into the distance through the upper portion of the lens, while your reading strength sits discreetly lower down.
The polarised lenses help reduce glare, while UV protection makes them suited to sunny Australian days.
And because they're made with premium acetate frames, Lumière feels a long way from the traditional idea of reading glasses.
Available in tortoiseshell and black, with reading strengths from +0.50 to +3.00.
One Pair. Less Swapping.
Read your book.
Check your phone.
Look up at the view.
Order another coffee.
Lumière lets you do all of it without changing glasses.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are progressive sun readers?
Progressive sun readers are sunglasses with reading magnification incorporated into part of the lens. This allows you to look into the distance and read close-up without changing between sunglasses and reading glasses.
Can you get polarised reading sunglasses?
Yes. Polarised reading sunglasses combine reading magnification with polarised lenses designed to reduce reflected glare. Ministry of Sight's Lumière combines polarisation with progressive reading magnification.
Can I wear progressive sun readers while walking around?
That's one of their main advantages over full-lens reading sunglasses. The upper area of the progressive lens is designed for distance viewing, while reading magnification is positioned lower in the lens.
Take a little time to become accustomed to progressive lenses before using them for activities where depth perception or quick visual changes are important.
Are progressive sun readers good for the beach?
They're particularly convenient for the beach because you can look into the distance and then look down to read your book, Kindle or phone without changing glasses. Polarised lenses can also help reduce reflected glare from water and other bright surfaces.
Are progressive sun readers prescription glasses?
Ready-made progressive sun readers are not individually prescribed. They use standard reading magnifications. If you need prescription correction for your distance vision or have more complex vision requirements, speak to your optometrist.
What strength progressive sun readers do I need?
If you already wear ready-made reading glasses, your usual reading strength is a sensible starting point. If you're unsure, use our Reading Glasses Strength Guide or speak with your optometrist.
Ready to Stop Swapping Between Sunglasses and Readers?
If reading glasses have become part of your life, they don't need to dictate what you wear.
Lumière Polarised Sun Readers combine progressive reading lenses, polarisation, UV protection and premium acetate frames in one pair designed for Australian sunshine.
For the beach, the pool, the café, the boat or your next holiday.
Sunglasses when you're looking around. Readers when you look down.
