UK Keratoconus Self-Help and Support Association

The time has come when I really need to get myself a good pair of dark glasses.

My question is do I need a prescription or do I just go out and buy the darkest I can find

Better still, can someone recommend a place to purchase some, I did read the RNIB mentioned in another post but can't find the information on their site.

Many thanks.
Chris.

I suppose you could get prescription sunglasses, as unless you're going to buy a really good (usually expensive) pair of sunglasses the actual lenses aren't very good and there is some distortion in cheaper glasses which can hurt your eyes if you wear them for long periods of time.
Also the better sunglasses have a tint rating, so to speak, that tell you what they're best for, eg, driving and overcast, only for bright sunny days etc. So maybe get a pair that suits what you're going to use them for rather than just getting the darkest you can find.
But even with that, the darkest sunglasses sometimes don't offer the best protection, just cover your eyes, make the pupil bigger without filtering the light...so I think it better to invest in a good pair.
I can't really recommend where thou, where I live there's a specialists that only do sunglasses and the name has totally slipped my mind meh but I found them really helpful.

I got mine on line from the RNIB

They do light excluders in different strengths.

Andrew

http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/

Thanks Knight.

Andrew, do you know under what section the glasses are under? I can't find them anywhere

Try Out and about

then UV eye shields

There are clip on options that go onto ordinbary specs and then others that you wear like normal glasses.

Andrew

http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/display_i ... =1&l=3&d=0

I find polarising sunglasses much better than just 'dark' glasses, which I suppose makes sense as your eyes are just receiving light in one plane, so less glare. Has anyone else found this?

Yup, found as you have Val. Permanently wear my dark UV protecting polarising safety specs. Do not fit over normal specs, but I can not wear them anymore so that is OK.

Look like normal designer sunglasses but with betetr protection and less problem of wind and dust getting behind them and grit in my eye.

Good for driving too as the moulded side shield is the same as the lens material so I do not have a blind spot issue some wrapround glasses have when you look out the corner of your eye. Also close fitting so catch a lens if it pops out.

Andrew MacLean wrote:Try Out and about

then UV eye shields

There are clip on options that go onto ordinbary specs and then others that you wear like normal glasses.

Andrew

http://onlineshop.rnib.org.uk/display_i ... =1&l=3&d=0

Thanks again Andrew, after my search earlier I was beginning to think they didn't supply them anymore.

I'm like Gareth

Even in winter (perhaps especially with the low winter sun), I don't ventue out without my polorizing uv excluders.

Andrew

I'm yet another one who swears by polarising sunglasses.
A few years ago, you could get them almost anywhere - Boots for a tenner, say.
Now they are like hens' teeth - unless you go to a spectable-purveyor and pay through the nose for a pair of posh spectables with plain lenses and a polarising coating.
No-something-or-other-likely!!

I've got the sort with the huge surrounds and fold-out side-pieces the give shading from all around (though only the actually lens area inthe front is actually polarising, but you can't have the world.
The RNIB I *thin* do these, but when I went in to get mine, they didn't have any polarising ones in stock, so gave me a catalogue from a firm called Cobolt, who go equipment for VIPs by mail order.
I got two pairs from them. Opinions in VIP circles about Cobolt seem to vary, but I've no complaints about these.
I think they're on the web if you do a search.
Pirces were reasonable - under 20 quid a pair, and no VAT if you need them to compensate for a disability (they ask on the order form for a registration number,but AIUI the law on VAT is "adaptive equipment to assist with a disability" which dark glasses for KC definitely are!)
Rosemary