How to Turn Sunglasses Into Reading Glasses With Stick-On Bifocal Lenses
You know the feeling: your sunglasses are perfect until you need to check your phone, read a map, look at your watch, or make out the tiny numbers on a dashboard.
Suddenly, the glasses that work perfectly well for everything else become a little less useful.
The good news? You may not need to buy an entirely new pair of prescription sunglasses.
Stick-on bifocal lenses for sunglasses can add a small reading area to many pairs you already own. You keep your normal distance view through the main sunglass lens, then simply glance down through the added reading segment when you need to see something up close.
It’s a surprisingly simple idea — and for the right person, a very practical one.
Key Takeaways
-
Stick-on bifocal lenses can add a small reading zone to many existing sunglasses.
-
They are especially useful when your distance vision is fine but close-up text has become harder to read.
-
Water-activated stick-on lenses can be removable, repositionable, and reusable without permanent glue.
-
Correct placement matters just as much as choosing the right reading strength.
-
They’re a flexible option, but they aren’t meant to replace every type of full prescription eyewear.
What Are Stick-On Bifocal Lenses for Sunglasses?
Think of them as a small reading window added to the lower part of your sunglasses.
Unlike prescription sunglasses, the entire lens isn’t replaced. Instead, a small powered lens is placed on the inside of your existing eyewear.
When you’re looking straight ahead, you continue using the main portion of your sunglasses for distance.
When you want to read something nearby, you glance downward through the stick-on lens.
It works a little like a traditional bifocal, except you don’t have to permanently modify your favorite sunglasses.
That makes stick-on lenses useful for people who already have sunglasses they really like and don’t necessarily want to replace.
Do Stick-On Reading Lenses Actually Work?
For the right use case, yes.
They can be particularly handy when you only need extra help for close-up tasks during the day.
For example, you might use them to:
-
Check your phone outdoors
-
Read an Apple Watch or sports watch
-
Look at a bike computer
-
Read a GPS or dashboard
-
Tie fishing knots
-
Check a map while hiking
-
Read menus or tickets while traveling
The key is understanding what they are designed to do.
A stick-on bifocal adds a small near-vision zone. It doesn’t turn the entire sunglass lens into a fully customized prescription lens.
So if you need complex correction across your whole field of view, a full pair of prescription sunglasses may still make more sense.
But if your main frustration is simply, “I can see far away just fine — I just can’t read this tiny text anymore,” stick-on reading lenses can be a very convenient solution.
How to Add Stick-On Bifocal Lenses to Sunglasses
The application process is refreshingly simple.
With water-activated lenses such as Aximyra Stick-On Lenses, you don’t need permanent adhesive.
Step 1: Clean Your Sunglasses
Start with a clean, dry inner lens surface.
Wipe away any dust, oil, fingerprints, or residue so the Stick-On Lens can sit smoothly against the lens.
Step 2: Add Water
Apply a few drops of clean water to the inside surface of your sunglasses.
You only need enough water to help the Stick-On Lens slide into position.
Step 3: Position the Lens
Place the Stick-On Lens on the inside of your sunglasses and align it with your pupil.
Put the sunglasses on and make small adjustments until the reading area feels natural when you glance downward.
Step 4: Press & Dry
Once you’re happy with the position, gently press out any excess water and visible air bubbles.
Wipe the surrounding area dry, then give the lenses a little time to settle before use.
Where Should You Position the Reading Lenses?
This part matters more than people sometimes realize.
If you place the lenses too high, they can interfere with your normal distance vision.
Too low, and you may have to tilt your head awkwardly every time you want to read something.
A good test is simple:
Put the sunglasses on and look straight ahead.
You shouldn’t feel like the reading lens is constantly sitting in your field of view.
Then look down naturally at your phone or watch. The reading zone should come into view without forcing you into an uncomfortable head position.
Everyone’s face, eyewear, and preferred viewing angle are a little different, so don’t be afraid to make small adjustments.
That’s actually one of the nice things about a repositionable lens.
How Do You Choose the Right Reading Strength?
Reading lenses are commonly available in powers such as:
+1.00
+1.50
+2.00
+2.50
+3.00
Generally speaking, the stronger the number, the more magnification you get for close-up viewing.
But stronger isn’t automatically better.
If the power is too strong for your needs, your comfortable reading distance may feel unnaturally close. Too weak, and you may still find yourself squinting or moving things around to find the sweet spot.
If you already use reading glasses comfortably, the power you use there can be a helpful reference point.
And if you’re unsure about the strength you actually need, it’s worth checking your prescription or asking an eye-care professional rather than guessing.
Which Sunglasses Work With Stick-On Lenses?
Stick-on lenses are versatile, but they still need a suitable surface.
They generally work best on eyewear with a smooth inner lens surface.
That can include many:
-
Everyday sunglasses
-
Polarized sunglasses
-
Cycling glasses
-
Fishing sunglasses
-
Sports sunglasses
-
Safety glasses
Highly textured, extremely uneven, or unusually shaped inner surfaces may be less suitable.
Very strongly curved lenses can also require a little more attention when positioning.
If you’re using an expensive pair of sunglasses and you’re unsure, it’s always sensible to test the fit carefully rather than forcing the lens into place.
Where Are Stick-On Reading Lenses Most Useful?
This is where the idea starts to make a lot of sense.
Cycling
Your distance vision is what matters most while riding.
But every now and then, you need to glance down at a bike computer, navigation screen, or smartwatch.
A small reading zone lets you do that without changing glasses.
Running
The same thing applies when you’re running.
You may see the path perfectly well, but the tiny numbers on your watch are another story.
Driving
For some people, the road ahead is clear while GPS instructions or small dashboard details are harder to read.
A lower reading zone can make quick close-up checks easier.
Fishing
Fishing involves a surprising amount of close-up work: tying knots, handling hooks, changing tackle, or reading small details.
That makes it a very natural use case for a removable reading segment.
Hiking and Travel
Maps, phones, tickets, menus, GPS devices — all of them can become annoying when you’re wearing sunglasses and suddenly need close-up vision.
And carrying a separate pair of readers isn’t always convenient.
Stick-On Bifocals vs Prescription Sunglasses
Both can solve a similar problem, but they do it in very different ways.
| Feature | Stick-On Bifocal Lenses | Prescription Sunglasses |
|---|---|---|
| Keep your existing sunglasses | Yes | Usually no |
| Removable | Yes | No |
| Repositionable | Yes | No |
| Reusable | Yes | No |
| Adds a reading zone | Yes | Yes |
| Full custom prescription across the lens | No | Yes |
| Easy to move between eyewear | Yes | No |
| Best for | Flexible close-up help | Full-time prescription correction |
If you need a complete prescription across your entire field of view, prescription sunglasses are usually the more complete solution.
If you mostly like the sunglasses you already have and just want occasional help seeing things up close, stick-on bifocals are a much more flexible option.
Who Are Stick-On Bifocal Lenses Best For?
They tend to make the most sense if:
-
You already have sunglasses you like
-
Your distance vision through them is comfortable
-
Close-up text is the main problem
-
You don’t want to carry separate reading glasses
-
You switch between different pairs of eyewear
-
You want something removable rather than permanent
They may be less suitable if you need complex prescription correction across the entire lens.
For example, someone who requires significant astigmatism correction or highly customized vision correction may be better served by a fully prescribed optical solution.
The goal isn’t to make stick-on lenses the answer for everyone.
It’s to make your existing eyewear more useful when your needs are relatively simple.
Can You Remove and Reuse Stick-On Lenses?
With water-activated designs, yes.
That’s one of the biggest advantages.
Aximyra Stick-On Lenses use water rather than permanent glue, so they can be removed, repositioned, and reused when handled properly.
This also means you aren’t permanently altering your sunglasses.
If your reading position changes, you can move the lens.
If you want to remove it for a while, you can.
And if you change eyewear, you may be able to transfer the lenses to another compatible pair.
You can learn more about the available strengths and options on the Aximyra Stick-On Lenses product page.
So, Are They Worth Trying?
If you love your current sunglasses but find yourself constantly taking them off just to read your phone, watch, map, or dashboard, stick-on bifocal lenses are a clever little solution.
They don’t try to replace a full prescription pair of glasses.
That’s really the point.
They simply add a useful close-up zone to eyewear you already enjoy wearing.
For everyday outdoor activities, sports, fishing, travel, or driving, that little bit of extra reading power can make a surprisingly big difference.
Keep the Sunglasses You Already Love
Instead of replacing a perfectly good pair of sunglasses, you can add the vision help you actually need.