Reading Sunglasses or Sunglasses: Which One Is Right for Me?

Sunshine, a terrace, a good book. Sounds relaxing. Until you realise you either put on your reading glasses and squint into the glare, or wear your sunglasses and cannot read a word. The good news: there is a solution for both, and the choice comes down to one question.

The key question: do I need a reading prescription or not?

Not everyone looking for sunglasses for their holiday also needs a reading prescription. And not every reading glasses wearer wants to switch to a tinted version for outdoor reading. The right solution depends on your situation:

No reading prescription needed: A quality pair of sunglasses is perfectly sufficient.
Reading prescription needed: A reading sunglasses combines both in a single lens.

This sounds straightforward, but in practice it is often unclear because many products are poorly labelled and the terms "sunglasses", "reading sunglasses", and "tinted reading glasses" get used interchangeably. This article sets the record straight.

What is a reading sunglasses?

A reading sunglasses is a reading glasses with tinted lenses and UV protection. The reading prescription is built directly into the lens, so you see sharply while reading and are protected from sunlight and UV radiation at the same time. No more switching back and forth between reading glasses and sunglasses.

Typical use cases: reading a book or newspaper at the beach, checking the menu on a terrace, consulting a guidebook outdoors, using your phone in the sun.

Full lens or bifocal: which design is right?

Reading sunglasses come in two main designs that differ in how the lens is built:

Full lens reading sunglasses: The entire lens is tinted and has the same reading prescription throughout. Ideal for anyone who uses the glasses primarily for reading rather than distance vision. Simple, lightweight, and generally more affordable.

Bifocal reading sunglasses: The upper part of the lens is uncorrected (for distance vision), the lower part contains the reading prescription. Practical for anyone who wants to alternate between reading and looking into the distance without taking the glasses off. One example from the I NEED YOU range is the Woody Sun-Bi, a bifocal reading sunglasses that meets exactly this need.

UV protection: what actually matters

When buying a reading sunglasses, the same rule applies as for any pair of sunglasses: the tint of the lens says nothing about UV protection. A dark lens without a UV filter can actually be worse than no lens at all, because the pupil dilates and lets in more radiation.

What to look for when buying:

UV400 or 100% UV protection: The glasses filter UV radiation up to 400 nanometres completely.
CE mark: Mandatory labelling for sunglasses sold in the EU.
Filter category 2 or 3: Category 2 for typical summer days in central Europe, category 3 for beach, water, and southern destinations.

The I NEED YOU reading sunglasses

I NEED YOU offers reading sunglasses with integrated reading prescription and UV protection: compact, lightweight, and with the same quality standards the brand's reading glasses have stood for over 30 years. The models are available in a range of prescriptions and come in classic I NEED YOU colours, from black and havana to vibrant summer shades.

The full collection is available here: I NEED YOU Reading Sunglasses

For those without a reading prescription: Travel Line Sun

Anyone who does not need a reading prescription but still wants a quality pair of sunglasses for travelling will find the right answer in the I NEED YOU Travel Line Sun. The collection brings popular I NEED YOU frame shapes to life as sunglasses: five models with quality plain lenses (no reading prescription), anti-reflective back surface coating to reduce glare, and sustainable materials. Lightweight, travel-ready, from €29.90.

Travel Line Sun is not a reading glasses, but for anyone who already has their reading glasses with them and wants a stylish pair of sunglasses alongside, it is a natural complement from the same brand.

Summary: what suits me?

Situation	Recommendation
I need reading glasses and want to read outdoors	Reading sunglasses
I alternate between reading and looking into the distance	Bifocal reading sunglasses (e.g. Woody Sun-Bi)
I do not need a reading prescription but want quality sunglasses	Travel Line Sun
I prefer to keep reading glasses and sunglasses separate	Travel Line Sun + regular reading glasses