School me on bike glasses

[Corey]

Good selection from Performance Bikes.

I am going to the ophthalmologist this coming Tuesday for an eye exam and new glasses.
I like the frames I have now, will get an updated version of them.
What I am wondering is can they also take a prescription and do the lens to a sport type glasses like at Performance or even Oakleys?

Wearing regular glasses during riding off road is not the best in case you wipe out and bend a frame.
The plastic ones are more forgiving.
I use to wear Oakleys when I wore contacts years back, but I gave up on contacts due to the upkeep and not being very compatible with my line of work.

I see Performance also carries what they call an RX insert.
They make two different models that correspond with the two models of glasses listed below.

Performance Radial II Rx Adapter

Performance Procyon Rx Inserts

It looks like they can fill your prescription and insert it into the above item which then snaps into the frames of these two models.

Performance Radial II Multi-Lens Eyewear

Performance Procyon Multi-Lens Eyewear

This looks like the way to go to be able to have my lens to see, and a good frame that can take abuse while off road biking.

I will see if my eye doctor has these type of frames also, but I suspect I will have to have Performance fill the prescription and use their adapter and one of those two frames.

Anyone using a custom setup like this for biking, skiing, ect?

 

[Christophe Noel]

You'll probably have better luck with an optometrist than a bug scientist.

I'm a bit of a Mr. Magoo, but I seldom wear Rx sunglasses. There are two types of Rx shades. There are those that use the inserts like those you mention or there are tinted, ground lenses. The inserts have the major drawback of getting goop, usually sweat, between the lenses. With that in mind, chose your shades very, very carefully.

I'm a big fan of Rudy Project sunglasses for riding. I've been using them since the 80s off and on and have to say, they're far superior to anything else I've used. That said, Oakley does make a nice Rx shade.

I would look into Rudy first, then Oakley. I have nothing against Performance, they're just price point products that often lack the quality of other products.

Lastly, for mountain biking, nothing beats photochromatic lenses that change the level of tint as needed. Polarized shades are all the rage, but mtb'ers don't get annoyed by glare, but we do have to deal with shadows, quickly changing light, etc.

I ride with Rudy Project Zyon photochromatic shades most of the time and really love them although my Smith Pivlock 90s are quickly gaining favor.

 

[Corey]

He he, I meant ophthalmologist, and Firefox's spell checker I clicked on the wrong word and did not proof read it good enough.
All fixed.

That is something to think about with the inserts getting crud on them.
I will ask my doctors son who does the filling/fitting of the frames and lenses after they come in about the Rudys.

My current glasses have the coating that change from clear to totally black almost depending on the amount of UV coming into them.

It would be nice to have a pair of bike glasses that do this too.

PS, found them.
http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/

PPSS, video, is this what you are talking about?
http://www.rudyprojectusa.com/home.htm
You can get them with the lenses that change to the conditions outside.

 

[sinuhexavier]

Smith makes RX glasses as well, they are what I use on my bike.

 

[Grim Reaper]

Having the same issue and really want more coverage for the wind. My progressive bifocals also really screw with my peripheral vision with my clip on rear-view.

My eye insurance went to crap this past year. Still covers the doctor visit but the amount they pay towards frames and glasses bottomed out. A bunch of the folks I work with heard about this place from Clark Howard.

http://www.zennioptical.com/cart/home.php?cat=27

They have some sports goggles. The price includes the prescription lenses where as the Performance ones all you are buying is the frame. You will still have to pay an additional amount to have the lenses ground. It may be cheaper to order 2 pairs (tinted and clear) from Zenni then that one pair from Performance.

 

[ntsqd]

You might look up some dispensing opticians in your area and talk to them about what can be done. Any frame that uses an insert lens can be fitted with Rx lenses. All Rx lenses start out round, only after they're roughed, fined, and polished to the desired prescription are they cut to fit a frame.
Back in the day when Oakley still made them, I had a dispensing friend make several sets of "plano" inserts (No Rx) for my "Frogskins". They can tint the lenses to a desired darkness, though photochromo's I beleive need to start out as that. I got a lot of life out the frames by not having to toss them every time I scratched a lens.

 

[Silver dude]

You can get any sun glass frame you want and bring it into a lens making place and get them fitted. However, they cannot have much curve to the lens they must be of a pretty flat basic design. I used to go to Walmart to have this done. When looking into tints for off road bicycling stay to the lighter side of the spectrum if you bike in the woods. I find that a yellow or brown tint works best to enhance the view of the ground. Dark tints just make shadows worse and the trail darker without enhancing your definition. However, if you bike tree less plains obviously a darker lens is what you need. Try to get a light weight frame that protects your eyes like safety glasses. Between tree branches impacting you in the face and roost from riding behind other riders eye protection is welcomed. Try to find a frame that is also comfortable to crash with. When it impacts into your face will it cut you or be damaged? Many companies make bike glasses large enough to simply fit over normal eye glasses. I'd also consider looking into shooting glasses. Many hunting glasses use high impact resistant frames with a yellow tint to enhance vision. I made the jump to contacts as so I could use any sunglasses I want.

 

[Sloan]

Oakley will also do prescription lenses in some of their glasses.

http://www.oakley.com/innovation/optical_superiority/prescription

 

[Corey]

Thanks for all the tips here, I will see what my doctor has in house.
They might be able to do everything there or hook me up with some good frames and photogray lenses.

 

[Mtn Mike]

Hi Corey,

Pretty good advice so far in this thread. Here's a few more points for clarity:

1) The magnitude of your prescription will determine whether or not you can use "Rx-able" wrap around's, like what Oakley and other sunglasses companies offer. The reason for this is that wrap around's have a high base curve (curvature of the front surface of the lens). They can not manufacture high power lenses with large base curves. It's just how the physics works out. Most wrap around.s have an upper limit of +/- 2-3 diopters.

2) If your Rx is too high for wrap around's lenses themselves, some wrap around frames accept Rx inserts, which may or may not be acceptable to you for the reasons stated by others. Personally I don't like them.

3) As a general rule, you get what you pay for with sunglasses. In my experience those Performance brand frames are junk. Oakley's and Rudy Projects are very good, as are some of the other more expensive end brands. With the cheap ones you sacrifice not only the optical quality of the lenses, but on the strength and comfort of the frame material. Being in the business might make me bias, but I still am willing to pay more of my own money for good lenses.

4) As for the lens tint I suggest simply trying different types before you buy. The color of the tint, photochromatic lenses, polarization, and darkness of the tint are almost entirely determined by personal preference. I prescribe lenses for sports vision, and also for the visually impaired and legally blind. I could talk all day about vision theory, but in reality the type of tints people prefer depend on many circumstances that are unique to how you'll use the lens. The best thing to do is try them out in person (not by guessing with online demos). Go to REI or something and see what they've got. Personally I prefer brown polarized lenses for cycling both on and off road on sunny days. I prefer clear or orange lenses for cloudy days. I prefer photochromatic if I'm just not sure what the day will bring :bike_rider:

Good luck with your eye exam :sombrero:

 

[Corey]

Thanks Mike.
I spoke with them earlier when they called to confirm my appointment tomorrow, and my current lenses are called Transitions which I am pretty happy with.

Maybe they can offer this type in a cool frame.
They have some catalogs for me to look through, but do not stock any.
They should be able to let me know what will work for me.

 

[Mtn Mike]

Thanks Mike.
I spoke with them earlier when they called to confirm my appointment tomorrow, and my current lenses are called Transitions which I am pretty happy with.

Maybe they can offer this type in a cool frame.
They have some catalogs for me to look through, but do not stock any.
They should be able to let me know what will work for me.

Transitions are a trade name for photochromatic. I have them too and they're good lenses. You'll have to see if you can get them in your power in a wrap around

 

[Corey]

Oh, my eyes
Still very dilated having just returned from my exam.

I was only eligible per insurance for one new lens and frame at this time.
My eyes have not changed at all since last visit two summer ago, but I am going with new Transitions lenses and frames to replace my current pair.

I will be eligible for the sunglasses and lenses July the 1st.
They had some in stock, but do not get a whole lot more in until March.
So I will stop back there around July to see what they have.

I also can no do a wrap around type, it has to be pretty much a lense like I have now.
So I will do a Transitions type lense into a durable sunglass frame come July.

This will give me time to try and find a frame I like or go with what they get in.

 

[bluedog]

Oakley makes the best lens period. No distortion over the curve of the lens. Get a transition and you can do almost anything. I have several pr.



B

 

[Corey]

Do they have non wraps?
My doctor said no go on a wrap around lens.

They can pretty much order me in any frame I want, and get a Transitions lens ground for it.
Heck, I might be able to use my old lens from the glasses I am giving up next week for the new ones.