Prescription limits–lens curvature in wrap around frames

Prescription lenses alone are complex in nature, but when it comes to curved lenses in wrap around frames, things tend to get a bit more complex.

Don’t worry. If you’re trying to determine if wrap around frames are for you, we’ll talk about that a bit in this article. In addition to that, we’ll discuss how to purchase wrap around frames online, as well as a bit of the science behind them. 

So keep reading.

Whether you’re considering wrap around frames for yourself, or simply interested in the topic alone, this article is for you. 

Wrap around lenses

Wrap around frames are glasses that tend to wrap around the side of your eye to protect your eye from contact with debris and light, for instance.

When ordering prescription glasses in a wraparound frame, disparities are acutely magnified. 

Thus, prescription wraparound glasses (such as sunglasses frames, motorcycle glasses, and safety glasses, for instance) must be made with special and deliberate care. This ensures that the patient can see and feel comfortable while wearing the glasses.

Keep in mind that even with the best technology, it can still be hard to adjust to wrap around frames.

But before we get into if they’re a right fit for you, we’ll first take a look into the science behind the lens to show you how they are tailored when made for wrap around lenses.

Keep reading.

Wrap around prescription lenses: the science behind it all

The numbers written on your prescription are not a guideline. In fact, they are strict tolerances regarding how precise a prescription has to be.

Prescription power in this context is defined for each eye separately. It is measured by adding the sphere and cylinder powers together. 

For example, a -2.00 sphere and a -2.25 cylinder in your right eye would equal a -4.25 power. On the same token, a +2.00 sphere with the same cylinder would add to only -0.25. Axis is omitted as a factor here.

A lens’s “base curve” is defined as the amount of curvature of the front of the lens. Typically, the lens front is not altered during the prescription making process–all of the power of the lens is worked into its back, that is, the side facing your eyes.

Higher base curves mean more curved lenses. A base curve of zero is as flat as glass on the front, whereas a base curve of 8 is the standard for many especially curved wraparound lenses in sports glasses, for instance.

Ordering prescription glasses for wrap around frames 

If you are ordering prescription glasses in a wraparound frame, you can expect that the prescription will have to be made into a curved lens of base 6 or 8. 

There are limits to the power of a prescription in this base curve. If your total prescription power in one or both of your eyes adds to anywhere outside the range of -4.00 to +3.00, you are at special risk of not adapting to wraparound lenses.

Prescriptions with a power outside the range of -6.00 and +4.00 either cannot physically be done or are barely able to be done in a high base curve, depending on your prescription. The end result is, even if the prescription is made, it is highly unlikely that you will be able to adjust to the new lenses.

People with prescriptions that have high cylinders (outside the range of -2.00 to +2.00) generally cannot adjust to a wraparound frame.

Those who have prisms are also at risk for being unadaptable to wraparound frames. Also, in general, prism causes the eyeglasses themselves to look strange or bad in a wrap around.

Contact us

If you are curious about whether your prescription will work in a wrap around frame, it is a good idea to call us so we can have a conversation about it. Our trained customer service representatives and in-house optometrists will be able to help you determine whether or not wrap around style prescription glasses are right for you.

There are other options if you want a wrap around prescription in a curved frame and your prescription is too high. So contact us if you’d like to talk about this. 

Occasionally, even people who have a very light prescription find that wrap around glasses do not work for them but we hope this sheds some light on prescriptions in wrap around frames.

Thank you for reading, and happy shopping!

  1. Myles says:

    What about progressives in wrap around sunglasses?

    • b.kotian says:

      Hi Myles,

      Yes we do progressive in wrap around glasses depending on the prescription. We would recommend you contact our customer service for assistance for more details. You can contact us by email at servic@rx-safety.com, or you can give us a call at 888-245-6638. It would be a pleasure to help you!

  2. Tom says:

    Hi I am wondering if my prescription is compatible with wrap sunglasses?
    OD -2.00 -2.00 x 001 +2.00
    OS -2.25 – 1.75 x 016 +2.00

  3. Mark Morris says:

    I had lasik surgery in both eyes. Only need +1.25 in bifocals. Will that work? And if so can you make lenses for wiley X frames, XL-1?

  4. Salvador Nazario says:

    Hi , I have a Ray Ban frame 2027 . OD -4.75 ,cyl -0.25, axis 010, near add +2.25 , h Prism 0.50 BO, v prism 1.00 BU. OS -0.50 , cyl -0.50, axis 170 near add +2.25, v prism 1.50BU . Can you work on this frame and prescription?? Thank you for your time


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