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Best Sunglasses for Women — 16 Styles from Readers to Bifocals and Regular Sunnies

Anna Traver

July 11, 2024 at 5:05 PM·6 min read

mature woman reading on hammock wearing sunglasses — *Kathrin Ziegler/Getty*

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Sun's out, shades are on! It's officially sunglasses season, and if you're like us, you're ready to find the perfect pair to wear this season. But whatever do you do when you need shades to block the sun but also readers to, well, read? Thankfully, there are tons of double-duty shades out there that make it easy to have both all in one — and even better, they're stylish, too! Here, we rounded up the best sunnies from reading sunglasses to bifocals and more.

Why are sunglasses important?

Throwing on a pair of sunglasses isn't just a fashion statement. As much as we love that they can accessorize an outfit, it's not the most important reason as to why you should wear them. That's because you need sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays.

You may remember when you were little hearing your parents tell you not to stare directly into the sun. Well, they had good reason for it! The sun can affect your corneal cells, causing them to "sunburn", just like our skin can burn without sunscreen. Our eyes are very sensitive, so this can happen easier than you think. Staring at the sun can even lead to solar retinopathy, which can cause sometimes permanent tissue damage. So to put it simply, throw those shades on!

mature woman wearing sunglasses outside — Getty

Further, sunglasses can protect the skin around your eyes in addition to your actual eyes. We love that thick-brimmed, wide styles are trendy at the moment because they shield more skin than the narrow 90s-style sunnies you may remember. Exposure to the sun can lead to premature aging and exacerbate fine lines and wrinkles around your eyes.

What to consider when choosing a pair of sunglasses

When choosing the right sunglasses, there's a few key things you'll want to keep in mind.

1. 100% UV protection

With so many great options on the market that have 100% UV protection, there's no reason to not have 100% protection from those harmful rays. Again, our eyes are sensitive, so the more protection the better.

2. Wide lenses

As mentioned, wide, chunky frames are definitely in style right now, and we are absolutely here for it. The wider the lens, the more protection for your eyes and the surrounding skin. Just make sure to apply sunscreen all over your face before heading outside with your sunnies on to avoid any funky tan lines from the frames.

3. The color of the lens

As far as UV protection goes, the color of your lens doesn't matter much — you should be getting 100% protection regardless if they're a neutral brown tint or you go for a pop of pink tint. However, the color does matter when it comes to how visible light you want blocked out. Piedmont Healthcare cautions that if you have more sensitive eyes (which is common for those with blue eyes), you may want to opt for gray-tinted lenses as they block out more visible light.

4. Double-duty benefits

You don't have to choose between being able to see and protecting your eyes anymore. Many sunglasses offer both non-prescription and prescription lenses, and if you don't need a prescription but you do need readers, those are out there too. You can also find bifocal lenses, progressive sunglasses and more.

The 16 best sunglasses for women

Keep scrolling for the best sunglasses for women that offer more than just shade from the sun. And don't worry, we made sure they're as stylish as they are protective.

Best reading sunglasses

Truly, what did we ever do without reading sunglasses? All of these readers are affordable and chic while shielding eyes from the sun.

Readers.com The Conrad Reading Sunglasses

Aviators never go out of style! This pair comes in five colorways and have fully magnified lenses, all while costing just $26.

Peepers by PepperSpecs Reading Sunglasses in Golden Hour

These rectangle sunnies are ultra lightweight on, and the lenses feature dual anti-scratch coating for more protection from dropping or scraping.

Readers.com The Mary Reading Sunglasses

We love a classic tortoise design! These readers check all the boxes: 100% UV protection, cute and affordable!

Peepers by PeeperSpecs Center Stage Oversized Reading Sunglasses in Blue Quartz

The polarized lenses on these reading sunglasses help to eliminate glare and enhance clarity. And, they add a fun pop of color with the baby blue specs in the pattern.

Foster Grant Sela SunReaders?

Black shades are a staple to have in your sunglasses collection since they go with just about any outfit. These black reading sunglasses feature lens that are scratch-resistant and impact-resistant. But fear not, they come with a case too to prevent scratching or dropping in the first place.

Best bifocal sunglasses for women

Bifocal sunglasses are great for those of us who need both near and far distance lenses in our sunnies.

Sofia Vergara x Foster Grant Sierra SunReaders? Bifocal Style

These are bifocals and readers all in one! They get bonus points for their wide lenses and thick frames, shielding the skin around your eyes and temples from the sun.

Readers.com The Stacey Bifocal Reading Sunglasses

Again, you can't go wrong with a staple pair of black sunglasses. These bifocals' grey tinted lenses are especially great for blue eyes (as explained above) and better yet, cost just $7!

Sofia Vergara x Foster Grant The Carmen Sun

We had to include a pair of aviator bifocals because, again, the style is a classic! These give you a 3-in-1 (sunglasses, reading sunglasses and bifocal sunglasses!). The soft gold and light brown hues make the perfect summertime pair.

Sofia Vergara x Foster Grant The Mayra Sun

A touch of animal print never hurt anyone! The sassy style of these bifocal sunnies will make you stand out in a good way.

Best regular sunglasses for women

If you don't want (or need) any fancy features like reading or bifocals lenses and just want a good pair of regular lenses that protect you from the sun, we've got you covered too.

LOFT Soft Rectangle Sunglasses

These oh-so-pretty frames bring extra pizzazz to your ensemble and although wide, are thin enough to not feel bulky or heavy on.

Giant Vintage CUPID Pink Cat-Eye Sunglasses

Cateye sunnies serve up retro flair, and this pair follows the Pantone Color of the Year trend, "peach fuzz."

EyeBuyDirect Deja Vu Sunglasses

Make a statement with colorful florals against a dark base color, like we see in this pair round frames. Again, these are big enough to cover your surrounding skin but still thin and lightweight.

Coach Outlet Integration Flower Sunglasses

Want to treat yourself with a designer pair of sunglasses? We found just the ones for you. These cost less than $100 and feature the cutest flower side detailing.

Tommy Hilfiger/Safilo Eyewear

Tommy Hilfiger TH Logo Oversized Butterfly Sunglasses

Another splurge pair, these Tommy Hilfiger sunnies come in the most beautiful black and auburn colorway, and the subtle yet elegant "TH" logo on the frames adds a gorgeous touch.