How many pairs of glasses you should own can be answered in two frustrating words: ‘it depends’. Nevertheless, it’s true. But on what exactly does ‘it’ depend? Well, let’s start with style. If you like to create a range of looks, from your workwear to your social wardrobe and everything in between, you might want to own about 20 pairs of glasses (check out this range of rectangle glasses for added inspiration). This, however, is a decidedly vague answer. That’s why we’re going to attempt to answer the question of how many pairs of glasses you should own with a minimum number in mind…
Everyday glasses for work
These are a staple part of the day for all people who wear glasses. Think neutral colours, sensible oval or rectangular frames, and a standard lens size. Of course, if your line if work is something more exciting than tedious office work, you could conceivably get away with more exuberant and colourful frames, but you’ll probably still want to have a sensible ‘office style’ pair of glasses in reserve in case you have need to attend an appointment (e.g. dentist, job interview).
Party frames
When you go out to socialise, you want to be you. You may spend all day being a worker, a commuter, a shopper, a student, a mother or father, or any number of other roles that require you to act in certain ways. But when it’s time to party, it’s the dealer’s choice when it comes to outfit and persona. You definitely need a pair of glasses that show off your fun side. This could mean colourful rims, cat eye frames, or even retro style glasses. Whatever you choose, this is one more pair of glasses to add to your minimum tally of the number of glasses you need to own.
Prescription sunglasses
Not essential for many people, but if you spend a long time driving in low sun mornings and evenings, for example, you may want to look into prescription sunglasses. Failing that, you could always invest in light-adaptive lenses. If you are regularly blinded by the sun while commuting, this is one decision you won’t regret.
Reading glasses & computer glasses
Reading glasses and computer glasses are different beasts. This is because the distance from the page to your eye is different from the distance between the computer screen and your eye. If you spend a lot of time both reading words on the page and working on a computer, you may need to speak to your optician about investing in separate glasses for the two tasks.
Specialist sports glasses
Sports glasses are designed with impact resistance and high durability in mind. This means they are often made from different materials (or different thicknesses of materials) as compared to normal eyeglasses (you may even require safety goggles). They are also designed for comfort and fit, and to help protect from wind / water / etc. depending on the sport.
In conclusion…
As you can see, the answer to the question of how many glasses you should own is quite meaningfully still “it depends”.
Tamila McDonald is a U.S. Army veteran with 20 years of service, including five years as a military financial advisor. After retiring from the Army, she spent eight years as an AFCPE-certified personal financial advisor for wounded warriors and their families. Now she writes about personal finance and benefits programs for numerous financial websites.