How To Order Prescription Sports Sunglasses

Rudy Project brings clear vision to every competition with prescription eyewear for athletes.

Are you an athlete who needs vision correction? Thanks to their expertise, dedication, and commitment to optimizing prescription eyewear technology, Rudy Project makes sure you never have to compromise on clarity, comfort, or performance. From photochromic lenses that change from clear to dark in seconds to a spectrum of lens colors dialed for specific conditions and terrain, Rudy Project sunglasses and eyewear ensure better focus in game, on the trail, or on the road.

If streamlined prescription sport lenses are the performance edge you’re looking for, here are four simple steps to help you see the road ahead more clearly.

Step 1: Get an Updated Prescription

Before you can determine which Rudy Project lens works for you, it helps to update your prescription at a Rudy Project-affiliated optometrist. That way, you’ll work with a doctor who knows which frames and lenses work best for your vision needs. They’ll also have sample lenses for you to try on. Depending upon the power of your prescription, you may find that any frame from Rudy Project’s prescription lineup will work for you. If you have a stronger prescription and want to reduce the thickness and weight of your lenses, you may find that optical docks offer the ideal solution. 

If your prescription is over two years old, we recommend visiting your existing optometrist for an eye exam and a Rudy Project Dealer, as they can assist with progressive / multifocal orders. If there are no dealers nearby, simply upload your prescription to Rudy Project’s online Rx portal and find your sunglasses.

Pro Tip: Make sure to have your pupil distance measured. Progressive orders are only available through Rudy Project Dealers.

Step 2: Pick the Right Frame for Your Sport

The eyewear needs of cyclists, runners, court athletes, golfers, and watersport enthusiasts are vastly different. Runners need specs with good ventilation, lightweight frames, and crystal-clear lenses — features that have made the Rydon a best-seller for years. Cyclists need ventilation to keep lenses fog-free on long, slow climbs in the summer heat and full coverage for 180-degree optical sharpness and wind protection on 50 mph descents, which the Astral Sphere delivers. Not surprisingly, triathletes need frames and lenses that combine all those features, which makes the Turbolence an ideal choice. 

Pickleball and tennis players need full coverage with sharp, high-contrast vision in a distortion-free lens that helps them locate and lock onto the ball fast. Frames with large wrap-around lenses, such as the Propulse and Cutline, ensure players can keep their eyes on the ball no matter where it is or how fast it’s coming their way.

Pro Tip: To optimize vision and field of view, find a frame that positions your eyes at the center.

Step 3: Choose the Right Lens and Tint

Picking the right lens tint for your sport is critical to your performance. Rudy Project offers over 40 lens color options, so you can find one for every condition. On the water or snow? Polarized lenses deflect glare from the water and ice. Charging through dense forest trails on your bike or on foot? Red, copper, and brown heighten contrast, which allows you to quickly spot debris, branches, roots, and other obstacles in your path. 

If you want one lens that works in any light, Rudy’s ImpactX® is the way to go. Designed for athletes who train through every condition, these photochromic lenses shift from clear to dark in seconds — ideal for pre-dawn starts, high-noon races, or anything in between.

Thanks to multiple prescription options, watersport athletes can opt for Polar 3FX polarized sunglasses. These sunglasses cut through the glare from the water, enhancing depth and contrast for better all-around vision in high-glare conditions.

Step 4: Build Your Bespoke Prescription Sunglasses

The last step is to work with your doctor or the pros at Rudy Project to put together your prescription sunglasses. Your options will depend upon your prescription. As mentioned above, strong corrections may limit you to Rudy Project’s seamless RX Shield options for wide facial coverage or their optical docks line for even trickier prescriptions. Either will allow you to enjoy all the benefits of Rudy Project’s lens design, frame features, and solid fit.

Book an appointment with your optometrist to see which lenses and frame options suit your sport(s) and lifestyle. You can find the closest Rudy-affiliated eye doctor here. If you know your prescription but don’t currently have an optometrist, you can order your prescription solutions on the Rudy Project website.

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