Winter is behind us and Middle Tennessee is warming up fast. That means more time outside, more sun on your face, and more reasons to make sure you have the right pair of sunglasses heading into the season. The kind that fit well, protect your eyes properly, and actually reflect your style.
At The Eye Bar in Murfreesboro, sunglass season is one of our favorite times of year. Here’s what you should know before you buy.
UV Protection Is Non-Negotiable
Let’s start with the basics. Sunglasses are not just a fashion accessory. They are a health tool. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet rays without proper eye protection has been linked to cataracts, macular degeneration, and other long-term vision problems. The good news is that quality sunglasses handle this automatically, but not all sunglasses are created equal.
When you buy sunglasses from a boutique optical shop, you know exactly what you are getting. At The Eye Bar, every pair on our floor offers 100% UV protection. When you grab a cheap pair off a rack at a gas station or a big box store, that is not always a guarantee. Darker lenses do not automatically mean better protection — UV blocking is a filter, not a color.
This is one of the most important reasons to buy your sunglasses from a licensed optician rather than a convenience store or an online retailer. You deserve to know what is actually protecting your eyes.
What to Look for in a Great Pair of Sunglasses
Beyond UV protection, here are a few things worth considering when you are shopping for sunglasses this spring:
Lens quality. Cheap lenses distort your vision in ways you may not even notice at first. Quality lenses from brands like the ones we carry at The Eye Bar offer optical clarity that makes a real difference, especially when you are driving.
Frame fit. A pair of sunglasses that slides down your nose or pinches your temples is not doing its job. Proper fit keeps the lenses in the right position in front of your eyes, which matters both for comfort and for protection. This is exactly why having a licensed optician fit your sunglasses is so valuable.
Face shape. Not every frame works on every face, and the difference between a frame that flatters and one that doesn’t often comes down to proportion. Jeremey has spent years helping customers find frames that work for their specific features. It’s one of the things that makes the boutique experience genuinely different from shopping on your own.
Style. Yes, this matters too. You are more likely to actually wear your sunglasses consistently if you love how they look. At The Eye Bar, we carry a wide range of styles from bold and fashion-forward to clean and classic, so there is something for everyone.
The Brands We Carry
The Eye Bar carries luxury sunglass brands that you are not going to find at a chain optical store or a mall kiosk. Fendi, Tom Ford, WOOW, ProDesign Denmark, Lafont Paris, Maui Jim, Wiley X, SALT, and more. These are brands built on craftsmanship, design, and optical quality. Frames that are made to last, made to fit, and made to turn heads.
If you are drawn to the fashion side of eyewear, Fendi and Tom Ford are two names that need no introduction. Fendi sunglasses have graced the faces of Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez, and Rihanna, among countless others. Tom Ford frames have become a staple on red carpets worldwide, worn by everyone from David Beckham to Kendall Jenner. These are not just sunglasses. They are accessories with a cultural footprint. The difference is that when you buy them at The Eye Bar, you are getting them fitted properly by a licensed optician instead of pulled off a shelf and handed to you in a bag.
Come in and try them on. That is the only way to really know.
Not all of our sunglass brands are about fashion. Two of the most important names on our floor are there because of what they do for your eyes, not just how they look.
Maui Jim is widely regarded as one of the best sunglass brands in the world when it comes to lens technology. Their PolarizedPlus2 lenses go beyond standard polarization by blocking glare, eliminating 99.9% of UV rays, and enhancing color and clarity in a way that has to be seen to be believed. If you have ever put on a pair of Maui Jims outside and felt like someone turned up the brightness on the world, that is exactly what their lenses are designed to do. For anyone who spends serious time outdoors, on the water, on the golf course, driving, hiking, etc., Maui Jim is in a class of its own.
Wiley X takes a completely different approach. Originally designed for military and law enforcement use, Wiley X frames are built to ANSI safety standards, meaning they are tested and certified to protect your eyes from impact, debris, and harsh environments. If you work outdoors, play contact sports, or simply want the peace of mind that your sunglasses can handle whatever the day throws at them, Wiley X is the brand for you. You do not have to sacrifice style to get serious protection, and Wiley X proves that every season.
Yes, You Can Put Your Prescription in Sunglasses
This is the part that surprises a lot of people, but it shouldn’t, because prescription sunglasses are one of the best investments you can make in your daily comfort and eye health.
At The Eye Bar, we can put your prescription into most frames on our floor. That includes sunglasses. So if you fall in love with a pair of Fendi frames or a bold WOOW style, there is no reason you can’t have them made with your prescription lenses built right in.
Prescription sunglasses are also available in a variety of lens options including polarized lenses to reduce glare on the water or the road, photochromic lenses that darken in sunlight and lighten indoors, and a range of tints and coatings depending on how you spend your time outside. Jeremey will walk you through every option and help you decide what makes the most sense for your lifestyle.
Come See What We Have This Spring
If you are in Murfreesboro and you are ready to step into spring with a pair of sunglasses that actually fit, actually protect your eyes, and actually look great, The Eye Bar is the place to start.
Stop in and browse, or bring your most recent prescription and let Jeremey help you find the perfect pair. We are open Monday through Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturday 9am to 1pm.
711 N Thompson Ln F, Suite F, Murfreesboro, TN 37129
Your eyes work hard for you every single day. This spring, give them something worth looking thro