FAQ

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About Cordina

Where is Cordina Eyewear based?

Charleston, South Carolina. Orders ship from Charleston and all warranty and repair work is performed at the Cordina facility there.

Is Cordina a family-owned company?

Yes. Cordina Eyewear is family-owned, founded by people with over 47 years in the sunglasses industry who wanted to build polarized sunglasses that could keep up with an active coastal lifestyle — and a brand that actually stood behind its product.

Are Cordina sunglasses eco-conscious?

Cordina describes its sunglasses as eco-conscious. [

What are Cordina frames made of?

We offer frames constructed from handcrafted Acetate and TR 90 Nylon. Lenses are available in lightweight Nylon and Mineral Glass options.

Where are Cordina sunglasses made?

Cordina Eyewear sources and manufacturers high quality materials from all over the world. All Cordina Eyewear sunglasses are designed and rigorously tested in Charleston, South Carolina.

How is Cordina different from other fishing sunglass brands?

Three things Cordina states about itself:

1. Family Owned. Cordina Eyewear is family owned and operated in our hometown of Charleston, SC. We stand by our product and our customers because we love what we do. We know we can beat our competition not only in quality but in service. 
2. Repairs. We offer custom repairs on non warrantied damage. Lens, temples, and full frame replacements are available in-house at published prices — $20 to $99 Most brands don't offer a path back once you've scratched a lens.
3. Lifetime warranty, handled directly in Charleston rather than routed through third parties. 
4. Unmatched lens lineup. Five polarized tints mapped to specific light conditions rather than offered as color choices. We walk the walk and needed lenses to come along.

How can I contact Cordina?

• General questions: cooper@cordinaeyewear.com
• Contact form: cordinaeyewear.com/pages/contact-us

Customer service is available Monday through Friday.

Do you offer corporate gifting or bulk orders?

Yes. We do corporate gifting better than anyone. See the Corporate Gifting page or contact the team directly.

Do you have an affiliate or pro program?

Yes. Details are on the Affiliate Program page.

Do you sell gift cards?

Yes.

I broke my Cordina's; where can I purchase replacement parts?

- If you need replacement lenses or a new frame please visit the repair tab to order parts. For pricing please refer back to the repair page. 

Are my Cordina's under warranty?

- Cordina eyewear offers a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturers defects. Defects include; paint peeling, lens delamination, and rubber nose pads/temple tips coming off. Scratches and standard wear and tear is not covered under warranty, however replacement parts may be available for purchase. See repair page or email us for details. 

What is the exchange policy?

- If you would like to return/exchange your order please email info@cordinaeyewear.com. We accept returns within 30 days from delivery date. Currently, we do not offer exchanges, but you may return your order and order another pair. For sunglass returns, noticeable wear and scratched frames and lenses will void the return. Returns MUST be in brand new unworn condition.

 Okay, I love your glasses but I HAVE to try them on before I buy. Where can I try some Cordinas on?!

- To check if your local retailer currently carries Cordina Eyewear refer to the "Find Dealer" tab on the home page. If you think your local store is a good fit send us a message in the "contact us" and we will reach out to them! We also offer returns if you are not near a retailer, order some and return them if they are not your style no problem.

Have you shipped my order?

- Most orders will ship within 24hrs, all orders will ship within 48hrs Monday through Friday. Orders ship from Charleston, SC. You will receive a shipping notification via email/text once your order is shipped. 

Why was I charged sales tax?

- We charge 9% sales tax on all orders shipped within South Carolina. Currently, we do not ship internationally. 

For any other questions please contact info@cordinaeyewear.com

Quick Answers

What is Cordina Eyewear?

Cordina Eyewear is a family-owned polarized sunglass and headwear brand based in Charleston, South Carolina. Founded by a team with over 47 years of combined experience in the sunglasses industry, Cordina builds premium polarized sunglasses engineered for life on the water — fishing, boating, surfing, and coastal living — along with performance headwear. Every pair of Cordina sunglasses is backed by a limited lifetime warranty against manufacturer's defects, and all warranty and repair work is handled in-house at Cordina's Charleston, SC facility. The company motto is See More, Explore More.

What lens color should I get?

The simplest rule: the brighter the conditions, the darker the lens.

Cordina's five polarized lenses, ordered lightest to darkest:

If you're only buying one pair, get Green or Bronze mirror. It performs across changing light better than anything else in the lineup.

Are Cordina sunglasses polarized?

Yes. Every pair of Cordina sunglasses is polarized and provides 100% UV protection.

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Choosing the Right Lens

What lens is best for fishing?

It depends on where and when you fish.

• Inshore sight fishing on shallow flats — Bronze mirror or green mirror. Both give you the contrast to read bottom composition and pick out a tail or shadow before it disappears. Bronze is especially strong when the bottom shifts between sand, grass, and mud.
• Early morning, late evening, or overcast — Yellow mirror. It's the highest-contrast lens Cordina makes and it brightens shadows, which matters when flat light is washing everything out.
• Offshore and deep sea in full sun — Grey or blue mirror. You need glare elimination more than contrast enhancement out there, and both reduce eye fatigue over a long day.
• You fish everything — Green mirror as your daily driver, grey for bright open-water days. That two-lens combination covers nearly every scenario.

What lens is best for driving?

Green mirror for general daytime driving. It handles the transition between bright open road and shaded stretches without making you squint or lose detail.

Yellow mirror for dawn and dusk driving, when light is low and contrast matters most.

Avoid very dark lenses for night or near-dark driving. No sunglass lens — polarized or otherwise — should be worn for nighttime driving.

A note on polarization and driving: polarized lenses cut glare off wet roads and other cars' hoods, which is a real safety benefit. They can also make some LCD dashboard displays and phone screens appear dark or striped at certain angles. Most drivers find this a minor tradeoff, but it's worth knowing before you buy.

What lens is best for boating?

Bronze mirror if the light is changing as you move across the water, or grey/blue mirror if you're running open water in full sun. Bronze transitions well across water sports and boating where glare and light intensity shift quickly. Grey is the most comfortable lens for extended wear in bright conditions.

What lens is best for the beach?

Grey or blue mirror. Grey eliminates glare and lowers high light while keeping colors true to life — it's non-reflective, so what you see is what's actually there. Blue mirror gives you maximum glare reduction with enhanced color clarity, and it's the better pick if your eyes are light-sensitive.

What lens is best for golf?

Blue mirror. It delivers maximum glare reduction with enhanced color clarity, which holds up well across open, bright conditions on the course.

What lens is best for sensitive eyes?

Blue mirror is Cordina's top recommendation for light-sensitive eyes. The blue mirror coating does the heavy lifting on glare so your eyes don't have to work as hard over a long day. Grey is the runner-up and reduces fatigue better than any other option in bright conditions.

What's the difference between mirrored and non-mirrored lenses?

A mirror coating is a reflective layer applied to the front of the lens that bounces additional light away before it reaches your eye. It reduces glare beyond what polarization alone does and can shift how colors appear — enhancing contrast in useful ways.

Cordina's grey lens is the only non-mirrored option in the lineup. It's completely non-reflective, which means colors appear true to life rather than enhanced or shifted. If you want accurate color rendering, grey is the pick. If you want contrast enhancement, choose one of the mirrored lenses.

Should I get glass or non-glass lenses?

Cordina offers both. [CONFIRM — I'd recommend adding your actual position here. Typical tradeoffs: glass offers superior optical clarity and scratch resistance but is heavier and can shatter on hard impact; polycarbonate/non-glass is lighter and more impact-resistant but scratches more easily. Confirm which non-glass material you use before publishing.]

One practical difference worth knowing: replacement glass lenses cost $99 versus $79 for non-glass, so glass carries a slightly higher long-term cost if you're hard on your gear.

Quick reference — match your conditions

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How much do Cordina sunglasses cost?

Cordina sunglasses range from $179 to $249 depending on lens material. Headwear ranges from $35 to $40. Shipping is free on all orders of $100 and up.

Polarization & Lens Technology

What does polarized actually mean?

When sunlight hits a flat horizontal surface — water, a road, a car hood, snow — it reflects back in a concentrated horizontal wave. That's glare. A polarized lens contains a filter that blocks horizontally oriented light while letting the rest through.

The practical result: you can see into water instead of just seeing the surface bounce back at you. For anyone sight fishing, that's the entire ballgame. For drivers and boaters, it's a meaningful reduction in eye strain and a real improvement in what you can see.

Do Cordina sunglasses block UV?

Yes. Cordina's premium polarized lenses provide 100% UV protection.

It's worth separating two things that often get conflated: polarization is about glare and visual clarity. UV protection is about eye health — cumulative UV exposure is associated with cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygium. A lens can be dark without blocking UV, and a lens can block 100% UV without being polarized. Cordina lenses do both.

Does polarization wear off?

Polarization is built into the lens itself, not applied as a surface coating that rubs away with normal use. What can fail over time is lens delamination — the layers of the lens separating — which while rare, is a manufacturing defect and is covered under Cordina's limited lifetime warranty.

Why do polarized lenses make my phone screen look weird?

Many LCD screens — phones, car dashboards, GPS units, some fish finders — emit polarized light. When your lens filter and the screen's polarization are misaligned, the screen looks dark or shows a rainbow pattern. Tilting your head or rotating the device usually fixes it. This is normal behavior for all polarized sunglasses, not a defect.

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Fit & Frame Sizing

How do I know what size frame to buy?

Use how you wear your hat as a shortcut:

• Tight (all snaps snapped) → you're looking for a small or medium frame
• Half way (middle snaps snapped) → you're looking for a medium or large frame
• Loose (all the way out) → you're looking for an extra large frame

It's not a precise measurement, but it gets most people into the right range on the first try.

Which Cordina frames run large?

The Dredge ($249) is designed for a large fit — a wrap-style frame with wide temples built for maximum coverage. 

Do you have women's frames?

Yes. Cordina has dedicated men's and women's collections, though many frames work well across both. Fit matters more than category — use the hat-size guide above and choose the frame shape you like. Check out the Cooper, Ashley, Magnolia, Twin Palms, Dune, or Breeze styles.

Can I try Cordina sunglasses on in person?

Yes. Cordina is carried by over 40 retailers.

Check the "Find Cordina in Stores" map on the homepage or the retailers page to find the nearest one. If you're not near a retailer, order online — returns are accepted within 30 days as long as the sunglasses come back in new, unworn condition with original packaging.

If you think your local shop would be a good fit for Cordina, send a note to cooper@cordinaeyewear.com and we will reach out to them.

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Prescription Lenses

Can I get Cordina sunglasses in my prescription?

Yes. Cordina Eyewear offers prescription lenses in all of our frames. Prescriptions are only offered in non-glass lenses at this time. 

What warranty covers prescription sunglasses?

Prescriptions filled directly through cordinaeyewear.com or Shades of Charleston carry a 2-year limited warranty rather than the standard limited lifetime warranty. Contact Cordina for details on your specific order.

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Warranty

What does the Cordina warranty cover?

Cordina Eyewear offers a lifetime warranty against manufacturer's defects.

Covered:

• Peeling or flaking of paint on the frame
• Lens delamination
• Rubber nose pads and temple tips wearing down or coming off

Not covered:

• Scratched or cracked lenses
• Standard wear and tear
• Scratched frames
• Broken or lost sunglasses

If you're unsure whether your issue qualifies, submit a repair ticket through our portal and the team will help you determine it. There's no cost to ask.

Where do I send warranty claims?

All warranty claims are handled at the Cordina Eyewear facility in Charleston, SC. Do not return your product to the retailer where you purchased them — retail stores are not authorized to provide service under this warranty.

Submit a repair form through the Repairs and Warranties page and you'll receive a ticket to track progress.

Do I need my receipt?

No. You do not need a receipt to initiate a warranty or repair. Just the product in hand. 

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Repairs & Replacement Parts

I broke mine. Can I get my Cordina sunglasses repaired?

Yes. Cordina repairs sunglasses in-house at the Charleston facility, whether or not the damage is covered by warranty. Lens replacements, temple replacements, and whole frame replacements are all available.

How much do replacement parts cost?

I scratched my lenses. What are my options?

Scratches aren't covered by warranty, but replacement lenses are available for purchase — $79 for non-glass, $99 for glass. Submit a repair form and the team will get you sorted.

This is worth emphasizing: a scratched lens doesn't mean a dead pair of sunglasses. Most brands leave you shopping for a replacement. Cordina will fix them.

Can I upgrade my nylon lenses to glass lenses?

Yes. If we offer that style in glass and nylon options, then you may change lens material when paying for a repair. 

I broke my frame. Can it be replaced?

Yes. A whole frame replacement is $79. Submit a repair form through the Repairs and Warranties page.

How do I start a repair?

Fill out the repair form on the Repairs and Warranties page. You'll receive a ticket to track your repair or warranty claim. If the issue turns out not to be a manufacturer's defect, Cordina will quote you a repair fee and get your agreement before starting any work — no surprise charges.

For further questions about repairs, email Hello@cordinaeyewear.com.

Shipping

How fast do orders ship?

Most orders ship within 24 hours. All orders ship within 48 hours, Monday through Friday. Orders ship from Charleston, SC. You'll receive a shipping notification by email or text once your order is on its way.

Is shipping free?

Shipping is free on all orders of $100 and up. Orders of $450 and up also include a free Flag Trucker hat.

Why was I charged sales tax?

Cordina charges 9% sales tax on orders shipped within South Carolina.

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Returns & Exchanges

What is the return policy?

Within 30 days of receiving your order, you may return qualifying Cordina sunglasses or gear in original condition with original packaging, in new and sellable condition. Sellable condition means the exact condition in which you received the item.

Returns must be shipped back within 30 days of receipt. Final sale items are not eligible for returns. Original shipping costs are not refunded, and customers are responsible for return shipping.

For sunglasses specifically: noticeable wear, scratched frames, or scratched lenses will void the return.

How do I return something?

1. Enter your order email and order number in the returns portal on the Returns & Exchanges page.
2. Purchase and print a return label from the shipping carrier of your choice and attach it to the box.
3. Drop the package at your nearest carrier location.
4. You'll receive email confirmation once your return is processed.
5. Allow up to 10 business days for the credit to appear on your account.

Questions about returns: returns@cordinaeyewear.com

Do you offer exchanges?

Absolutely. Let us know what style you're interested in when returning!

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Care & Maintenance

How do I clean my sunglasses without scratching them?

Rinse with fresh water first, then dry with the microfiber pouch or cloth they came with. The rinse matters more than people think — wiping salt, sand, or dust across a dry lens is how most scratches happen. You're essentially dragging abrasive particles across the coating.

Avoid paper towels, shirt hems, and household glass cleaner. Paper products are wood-based and abrasive at the microscopic level, and ammonia-based cleaners can degrade lens coatings over time.

Can I wear Cordina sunglasses in salt water?

They're built for it — that's the entire design brief. Rinse them with fresh water after saltwater exposure. Dried salt is abrasive and will scratch lenses when you wipe them, and over time salt residue can work into hinges.

Will they float?

No, Cordina Eyewear is not designed to float. 

How should I store them?

In the case or pouch, out of the car. A closed car in summer can exceed 150°F, which is enough to warp frames and stress lens coatings and adhesives over repeated exposure. Leaving them on your dashboard is the fastest way to age a pair of sunglasses.

Also: set them down lens-up, not lens-down.