Ferrino

I'm totally new to eyesight correction, after visiting the optician yesterday and requiring a mild prescription for cycling/driving/outdoors stuff. I'm not into contact lenses, so I ordered a pair of prescription sunglasses for daytime use. I would now like to buy a pair of glasses purely for cycling and was wondering what you'd recommend, please?

I'd like to have the prescription in the frame lens (i.e. not an insert) and I'd like to not have to swap lenses depending on the light conditions. Can I therefore get a prescription transition lens that would give me a good range from bright sunshine to complete darkness when riding at night? I understand transition lenses cannot do the full range of tints, but something that can go from clear to moderately dark would be great.

Thanks!

Paul Y.

I've got Rayban trans that work pretty well. They get very dark.
Excellant in full sunshine to dusk. Not so good in dark.

carleton

I don't know about transitions lenses, but I race with 2 guys that use prescription Oakleys. They seem to really like them.

EDIT: I think looking for transitions sports lenses might be a tall order. Bear in mind that cyclists get by with non-transitions lenses just fine. One set of shaded and one clear is sufficient. Maybe some yellow for riding under artificial light as an option.

awesomejack

https://www.bicyclerx.com/category.php?catid=1

take your pick. I've heard most people recommend Oakley M-frames or Flak Jackets

merlinextraligh

I've got prescription Oakleys. They work well. There are not a lot of options for "wraparound" style lenses without inserts. Oakley is one company that offers that.

jrennie

another one for RX oakley but they don't do a transition lense.

collegeskier

I ride with prescription Oakley's when it is sunny out and ride with my regular glasses the rest of the time. For a long time I just did regular glasses and almost never did sunglasses but I really like the sunglasses now that I have them.

cccorlew

I have on order (and they should be here already, but aren't) Oakley Jawbones. I tried on lots and these are the only ones I found that sit on my face high enough to be useful.
Lord knows they cost too much.

I wanted vented bifocals, and it seems Oakley doesn't do them. My optometrist sent the order to a third party company. I don't know how their optics will stack up against Oakley.
I have pretty good vision coverage, and am double covered with my wife's plan. Without it Oakleys, dark bifocal lenses and yellow bi-focal lenses would have added up to near a grand!

RedLeg

A rose copper lense should give a preetty good balance between sunny conditions, overcast and shadows.

Ferrino

Thanks all! I really need something that will work at night, so I may just buy the same set of sunglasses I've already ordered, but with clear lenses.

On a slight tangent, is there much money to be saved by buying prescription glasses online, compared to at the optician's? And will the sunglasses I've ordered through him tell me all the parameters I will need to order a set online?

awesomejack

As far as money, yes, you will save money buying online (bicyclerx.com). I recently got prescription sunglasses a couple weeks ago, my optician was going to charge $530 for Oakley Flak Jackets ($200 frame) + $230 for polarized, tinted, HI lenses. Bicyclerx charged me $380 for Rudy Project Horus ($200 frame) with the exact same lenses.

Your optician should have given you a card with your prescription information on it after your appointment. You may have to call the office to get your pupil distance though

creatinine

I bought a pair of these Rx sunglasses (https://www.zennioptical.com/product....25&cat=&page=1) for 26 bucks. They work great! You can't see the presciption glasses through the sunglasses, they work just as well as my nonprescription Oakleys. A nice option for a cheap backup pair of Rx sunglasses.

livestrong_fan

Avoid on-line if you can

If you are going to order online you will need your PD (pupillary distance) measured in mm.

Please do not try to measure it yourself in the mirror (on-line retailer will tell you to do this)

If you get your PD wrong it will induce unwanted prisim in new lenses(not good for eye muscles)

Andy Somnifac 

I have a pair of prescription glasses with transitions lenses I got specifically for riding. One of the best things I've bought for the bike.

fishymamba

I just take a pair of Rayban sunglasses and a pair of normal glasses. I just stop and switch them when it gets too dark.

six8

I have been using Oakley Half Jackets for years with 3 different sets of Rx lenses: one for normal daylight conditions, a transition set for heavy overcast and dusk, and a clear set for nighttime.

The transitions will never be completely clear nor be as dark as the regular lenses, but they work fine for those rides that start during daylight and end under the lights (when swapping is impractical). If it's a dedicated night ride, I'll use the clear.

CCrew

Actually they do. Their best lens only goes 66% clear though, so they're not a night/day solution.

ultraman6970

Using glasses since forever here, the main issue with some of those beautiful frames that obviously i love is that they have a limit in the prescription they can put in there. In my case for example I can't use them So it is not just go and buy them.

What i did was grab a set of sport nike frames that aren't so curved and have worked nicely. The beauty of transitions is that u can use them in any type of light or weather so one pair fits everything

Steve530

+1

thebchessl

+ Infinity!!! I have a pair of Rudy Project perscription , progressive, bifocal, transition lenses. They aren't cheap but they are worth it.

Ferrino

I think this is the approach I am going to take for the time being, as I can't really afford 3 separate pairs (have already order fixed-lens sunglasses and am going to get regular glasses). I'm just a bit worried about the regular glasses falling off during the night commute...

Euthe

I highly recommend zenni for glasses. https://www.zennioptical.com/home.php?cat=27 There's just no way to get a cheaper set of eye glasses. The only downside is you have to be careful with your measurements as there is no way to try before you buy. It also takes a while for them to arrive. Worst case scenario is you're out <$30.

My sunglasses are from zenni and I paid less than $20 shipped. They are ok build quality and I can see great with them.

JimF22003

Does anyone make a non-prescription sunglasses style with no correction for distance, but with a bifocal section for close-reading (for maps or the bike computer?) I currently use stick-on bifocal lenses with my Tifosi glasses, but it would be nicer if this were built-in.

mihlbach

incorrect. I have RX Oakleys with transitions lenses.

Steve in MA

My prescription limited my options somewhat (couldn't do a lens with significant curve, like most of the Oakleys), so I went with a Ray-Ban frame and transitions lenses. Love the transitions, mine will go from almost completely clear to very dark tint, so they've been fine for any conditions I ride in. I bought mine at Lenscrafters (great price, but that was mostly due to my particular vision care insurance, so YMMV). I think the frame is called the Predator, or something like that. Fairly wide arms to provide some side protection from wind/debris, since I couldn't do a style with wrap-around lenses.