Bluish Green

This morning, I was commuting in to work like I have done hundreds of times on the same route, when I got hit in the sunglasses by a tree branch. It was a tree I go under every morning, and I'd never hit a branch before. Didn't see it coming, either. Point of impact was on the left side of my sunglasses, and it pushed my glasses and raked my eyebrow pretty hard.

I share this because I think the sunglasses saved me a nasty eye injury today. I go every ride with either sunglasses or clear protective safety glasses - not primarily for this reason, but mainly as a place to put my Take-A-Look mirror. I keep whichever set of glasses I'm not currently using in a hardshell large sunglass case in my pannier.

I'd always enjoyed the protection from bugs (and assorted stuff) in the eyes, but today really brought home the importance of eye protection during rides for me.

ill.clyde

I always ride with eye protection too ... usually sunglasses. As the seasons change and we start losing daylight I'm going to need a "clear" tint alternative.

I wear eyeglasses, but I don't want to wear my usual glasses. I'm currently using prescription sunglasses.

Mumonkan

happens to me a lot with tall weeds on the side of the road as well as branches

one of the few applications where im thankful i wear glasses

for night riding i recommend yellow or amber lenses not just clear. used them when i had a motorcycle and they were like nightvision, so good.

ill.clyde

funny ... I saw an infomercial last night for a yellow tinted "night driving" set of eyeglasses. they were yellow tinted too, was wondering if it was hype

chaadster

I like running the yellow lens in my Dux Helm for lighted, urban environments at night, but I prefer to pop in the clear visor for dark, countryside night rides.

kookaburra1701

I use safety glasses as well. They've saved me sooooo many times, big bugs just seem drawn to my eyeballs.

RGNY

my #1 piece of safety equipment is eye protection.....

modernjess

+1 - I wont ride without something to protect my eyes.

dynaryder

Ditto. Had a friend give me some crap once when she saw me swapping in the clear lenses before leaving the party. It was snowing,and on the way home I was passed by a salt truck. Something bounced off the left lens,no idea what it was,but it gouged the lens. Would've been seriously unpleasant if that had been my eye. I started wearing eye protection when I was a kid and got a bug in my eye one summer ride.

RGNY

i've had lenses cracked by stones throw from car tires. that was enough for me.

Burton

That eye protection is one of the things I really like about the built in lenses on the Dux Helm and Giro Air Attack helmets. Sunglasses have pros and cons. The biggest con is that in the event of an actual facial impact - the sunglass frame can cause serious eye damage. The larger lenses of the helmetsmight impact forhead and cheekbone areas - but not the eye socket. Currently have two clients recovering from concussions complicated by sunglass frame damage to the eye socket. I'd like to blame that on motorists but there were none involved - just cyclsts.

wolfchild

I wear clear safety glasses when it's dark and safety sun glasses during daytime.

BaggerRyder

I always wear glasses while riding my bike. I currently wear a pair of Oakley Hijinx with Rx transition lenses while I ride. The lenses don't get super dark but dark enough to cut the glare of sunshine but also go clear when the sun starts to go down. The hijinx has a pretty big frame and lens that provides a lot of protection.
I've hit one low hanging branch from a tree that I didn't really see and without the glasses I know I would currently be recovering from a serious eye injury. The glasses also keep the dust and other fine debris out of my eyes being kicked up by car traffic. Took a rock to the lens once while on my moto. Again, I have no doubt those glasses saved me from serious injury. I consider eye protection to be the most important piece of protective equipment aside from my helmet.