Specs wearers, advice and guidance ?

[Scootabout]

Well that escalated.

I had to drive to Heathrow yesterday for CV19 vaccination and i was thinking all the way there.."These are not very dark at all"

I was pondering this and every time i looked in the rear view mirror they had barely changed from clear.

"so, i wonder if that's down to the windscreen blocking UV rays" i think to myself and it seems that's correct. Windscreen block 95-95% of UV rays and that's what activates the transition lenses on glasses.

So this morning i found a place that makes prescription lenses for my preferred Oakleys. I've got multiple pairs of Oakley Fuel cell, they fit and feel 'right' and it's what i was trying to replicate with my new glasses. Sadly, it's bloody expensive ! £196 for sunglass lenses only. You send them your frames and they fit the lenses for you. Then send you the completed glasses back. It's £100 less than getting the actual glasses with lenses and as i have several pairs here it's no biggy to do it that way. So they're now on their way and should be perfect for driving and day to day outdoor sunny stuff.

Maybe a bit too late, then, to tell you about clip-on sunglasses? Unstylish, maybe, but I only wear them in the car. Reactolites otherwise. And you can flip them up for tunnels, shaded areas etc.

[weeksy]

Well that escalated.

I had to drive to Heathrow yesterday for CV19 vaccination and i was thinking all the way there.."These are not very dark at all"

I was pondering this and every time i looked in the rear view mirror they had barely changed from clear.

"so, i wonder if that's down to the windscreen blocking UV rays" i think to myself and it seems that's correct. Windscreen block 95-95% of UV rays and that's what activates the transition lenses on glasses.

So this morning i found a place that makes prescription lenses for my preferred Oakleys. I've got multiple pairs of Oakley Fuel cell, they fit and feel 'right' and it's what i was trying to replicate with my new glasses. Sadly, it's bloody expensive ! £196 for sunglass lenses only. You send them your frames and they fit the lenses for you. Then send you the completed glasses back. It's £100 less than getting the actual glasses with lenses and as i have several pairs here it's no biggy to do it that way. So they're now on their way and should be perfect for driving and day to day outdoor sunny stuff.

Maybe a bit too late, then, to tell you about clip-on sunglasses? Unstylish, maybe, but I only wear them in the car. Reactolites otherwise. And you can flip them up for tunnels, shaded areas etc.

Yeah, errrrm no.

[weeksy]

After a bit of a manufacturing and customs delay coming from Italy, my new custom Oakley lenses are looking sweet in my sunglasses

2021-05-19_01-18-32 by Steve Weeks, on Flickr

[Cousin Jack]

Well that escalated.

I had to drive to Heathrow yesterday for CV19 vaccination and i was thinking all the way there.."These are not very dark at all"

I was pondering this and every time i looked in the rear view mirror they had barely changed from clear.

"so, i wonder if that's down to the windscreen blocking UV rays" i think to myself and it seems that's correct. Windscreen block 95-95% of UV rays and that's what activates the transition lenses on glasses.

So this morning i found a place that makes prescription lenses for my preferred Oakleys. I've got multiple pairs of Oakley Fuel cell, they fit and feel 'right' and it's what i was trying to replicate with my new glasses. Sadly, it's bloody expensive ! £196 for sunglass lenses only. You send them your frames and they fit the lenses for you. Then send you the completed glasses back. It's £100 less than getting the actual glasses with lenses and as i have several pairs here it's no biggy to do it that way. So they're now on their way and should be perfect for driving and day to day outdoor sunny stuff.

Yes, that is a problem with photochromics in the car. Since most places often do a BOGOF offer with specs I have a pair of polarizing ones just for driving.

[Horse]

Be aware that the suppliers of some curved lens sunglasses offer prescription lenses - but actually fit an additional flat insert.

This Co. manufacture curved prescription lenses:

https://www.optilabs.com/

[weeksy]

Be aware that the suppliers of some curved lens sunglasses offer prescription lenses - but actually fit an additional flat insert.

This Co. manufacture curved prescription lenses:

https://www.optilabs.com/

Mine are direct from Oakley.

[MrLongbeard]

A foggy will work, but they can be a bit of a bitch with taking the helmet on and off.
I just use the magic pink stick (Hawaiian Enterprises?) found at every motorcycle show but not for sale anywhere else, it does what it's supposed to.

Pink stick now relegated to back up option, I now use https://foggywipe.com/ and they work rather well, far easier to apply.

[Lutin]

I now use https://foggywipe.com/ and they work rather well, far easier to apply.

Thanks for the tip.

Got some ordered.

[Hot_Air]

i was thinking all the way there.."These are not very dark at all"

I was pondering this and every time i looked in the rear view mirror they had barely changed from clear.

"so, i wonder if that's down to the windscreen blocking UV rays" i think to myself and it seems that's correct. Windscreen block 95-95% of UV rays and that's what activates the transition lenses on glasses.

Yes, that is a problem with photochromics in the car.

Yes, car windscreens and helmet visors block the UV rays required for photochromic lenses to work. But I have found one exception: Transitions Drivewear lenses. They are (the only?) polarized lenses that adapt to light behind a windscreen or visor. YMMV, but I have found them brilliant.

[wheelnut]

I've gone for a set as close to my Oakley Sunglasses as possible as they worked fine when i had a clear visor. Of course that doesn't mean 100% they'll work for me, but currently there's no major rush as i don't 'need' them yet.

This. If the sunglasses work ok for you without steaming then normal glasses should be ok as well.

[TightRS]

I've got some thin metal clip-ons that look ok as they match my specs shape, I think they're £20 from Boots but they were on eBay for £7.50. A bit like this, there's no hinge so you don't look exactly like Bez.



However as they're dark in the middle and let light in from the sides and top it made me feel blind on the bike like Andy McNab. Some rainbow patterning with the too visor so I guess they're polarized. They work ok with a baseball cap when facing the sun though.

I have some ugly huge Orao overspecs from Decathlon which work on the bike. I might take them out of the tank bag on a return trip into the sun, but the plastic bridge can hover above or press on one side of the nose due to the helmet.

I might buy the same thing smaller on eBay, but ultimately I need a new helmet with Pinlock and sun visor. The visor fogging at night got dangerous (5c) until I re-applied my anti-fog spray. There was only a bit of water trickling on the road and the mirrors kept fogging up too, which I don't remember happening before.

[Horse]

Yes, car windscreens and helmet visors block the UV rays required for photochromic lenses to work. But I have found one exception: Transitions Drivewear lenses. They are (the only?) polarized lenses that adapt to light behind a windscreen or visor. YMMV, but I have found them brilliant.

They were an option from Optilabs, but are daytime only as they don't go clear enough for night-time use - I wasn't going to buy two pairs

https://www.optilabs.com/product/pulse/


Info:

WEAR (®) LENSES
Prepared to be impressed! 3-in-1 Transitions Drivewear® lenses were originally designed for the road but their revolutionary optical properties make them perfect for a wide range of sports too. They really are the only sunglasses lens you’ll ever need. From bright sunlight and blinding glare, to cloudy overcast conditions, Drivewear® lenses quickly adjust – providing outstanding visual performance – whatever the weather. Suitable for daytime use only. Protection against UVA and UVB rays.

Colours: Variable tint. Olive green to dark brown
Available lens types: Single vision prescription, bifocal, varifocal & non-prescription

Lens information: At the core of the Transitions Drivewear® are lenses that react to changing levels of light. In low light and overcast conditions (where other lenses would struggle) Transitions Drivewear® are a green/yellow colour to provide high contrast and maximize useful light information reaching the eye. As the light increases, the lenses change to a copper shade or dark reddish-brown colour (depending on the amount of light). Brown is a colour which most people find is the most visually comfortable. It is dark enough to remove excess light and provide good detail recognition. It can also improve depth perception.

In bright sunshine, Transitions Drivewear® lenses are designed to change to a dark reddish-brown colour. This offers superior filtration of excess light and to provide increased protection from bright light. The brown colour of the lens enables excellent colour recognition with a special emphasis on highlighting greens. Because green is the most common color in the natural landscape, these lenses provide a great visual experience in the countryside.

The power of polarisation
What makes Drivewear lenses so special is that they combine Transitions® photochromic technology with NuPolar® polarisation technology for the ultimate visual experience. Typically, efficient glare-reducing polarisation only occurs when the lenses are very dark. Transitions Drivewear® lenses combining amazing light enhancing properties with phenomenal horizontal polarisation – meaning that wearers can experience the visual benefits of polarisation even when the lenses are not extremely dark. This was achieved only by pushing polarised manufacturing technologies to new levels of exceptional performance and light transmittance. Transitions Drivewear® lenses are polarised at all times and in all conditions.

The all-round lens
Transitions Drivewear® are the ultimate combination for both sport and driving. The lenses will adjust fully behind the windscreen of the car unlike other photochromic lenses. Visit our driving pages for more information. They also offer superior visual performance for safety and traffic light recognition, plus they are impact, water and chemical resistant to give you the best peace of mind possible.

Although:

Photochromic lenses have a variable tint and darken and lighten rapidly depending on light conditions. This makes them the perfect choice for many sports. In very low light our photochromic lenses will go virtually clear meaning that they can still offer vital protection whilst maintaining good vision.

[Hot_Air]

@Horse I bought DriveWear lenses (utterly brilliant!) for daytime and cheaper clear lenses (with anti-glare) for nighttime. You just have to keep your eyes peeled for special offers

[Horse]

@Horse I bought DriveWear lenses (utterly brilliant!) for daytime and cheaper clear lenses (with anti-glare) for nighttime. You just have to keep your eyes peeled for special offers

I bought (as varifocals) the curved lens specs to see whether they would help (they do). Wasn't going to buy two pairs 'on spec'

[Hot_Air]

@Horse I saw what you did there

[Mr Moofo]

@Horse I bought DriveWear lenses (utterly brilliant!) for daytime and cheaper clear lenses (with anti-glare) for nighttime. You just have to keep your eyes peeled for special offers

I bought (as varifocals) the curved lens specs to see whether they would help (they do). Wasn't going to buy two pairs 'on spec'

explain?
What re the curved lens spectacles?

[Horse]

@Horse I bought DriveWear lenses (utterly brilliant!) for daytime and cheaper clear lenses (with anti-glare) for nighttime. You just have to keep your eyes peeled for special offers

I bought (as varifocals) the curved lens specs to see whether they would help (they do). Wasn't going to buy two pairs 'on spec'

explain?
What re the curved lens spectacles?

See the Optilabs link earlier

20211007_102127.jpg (405.66 KiB) Viewed 243 times

[Horse]

Since my neck fusion, I have restricted side to side movement. They help when looking at junctions.

[Mr Moofo]

I bought (as varifocals) the curved lens specs to see whether they would help (they do). Wasn't going to buy two pairs 'on spec'

explain?
What re the curved lens spectacles?

See the Optilabs link earlier

[weeksy]

So today arrived my 3rd pair since kicking off the thread.

Why 3 you may ask

Pair 1 sunglasses
Pair 2 transition lenses
Pair 3 clear

I needed the clear ones for MTB as I'm getting into the woods with transition lenses and for the first 10s I can't see a thing until they start to lighten, then out, then in again. So needed a set for pedalling in.

I bought the same model as earlier, Oakley Litebeam as I know they fit perfectly. Well as perfect as they can on my wonky head.