OT- ? about Transitions eyeglass lenses

I came into a little bit of money and decided to treat myself to some nice glasses to replace these cheap "industrial" frames and lined trifocals. I want no-line trifocals (had them before and they worked well for me) with the Transitions lenses that darken when you go outdoors and lighten up indoors. I have never had Transitions, so before I invest in them (rather pricey), does anybody have any comments... anything I should know?

Thanks my friends- I always know I can get good info here! ;-)

Leslie

The HairyFacedOnes 'N Me

RCTQ- Houston 2004..... A good friend will come and bail you out of jail.... but, a true friend will be sitting next to you saying, "Damn... that was fun!"

I've worn transition lenses for years. They work very well for driving and general wear, I never notice the changes, so I guess they work well. They don't work well for intense sunlight, as they don't get dark enough. I still have regular (well, prescription) sunglasses to wear when climbing or hiking.

lisae

The HairyFaced> I came into a little bit of money and decided to treat myself to some

I have used the transition lenses for as long as they have been available. I love them, and as a previous writer mentioned, they have gotten a lot better over the years. They no longer take forever to change back and forth and you the wearer are never really aware of the changing. Finally talked my husband into trying them at last change of lenses, now he loves them too. Marilyn in Moravia

I used to have them and plan to get them again. For some silly reason, I decided to do without them this time and use clipon sunglasses. What a pain!

Doesn't it bother you when you wear the old glasses?

My glasses fell off when I was climbing and got all messed up. I had to wear my old glasses until I got them fixed, and it drove me crazy. I didn't really understand as my new prescription was much the same as the old one; my sister the optometrist made the bifocal portion a bit stronger.

This time around, I had to get graduated lenses for my sunglasses also. I found I couldn't read maps with a plano lens. Sigh . . .

lisae

D> Not only do I have the transition lens - I also have prescription sun

I agree; I had a pair of those and never used the clipon part.

lisae

"LN (remove NOSPAM)" wrote:

No problems. The prescription isn't 'that' different. I can't read as well with the old lens in my sunglasses, but I use them mostly for driving and they don't cause me any problems with that. That is the reason that I'm going to have my current glasses dyed. The sunglasses I'm using now are too many prescriptions ago - I'm sure at least 4 changes back.

If I recall, you can pick how dark you get them. I'm sure I'd keep my clipons for that bright headon sun (when driving mostly) but would not need sunglasses otherwise. I didn't need them when I had the trans before.

No, the transitions don't get as dark as sun glasses. That's why I have both. I keep my sunglasses in my car. If I get out of the car to go in a store, I leave my sungalsses in the car and the transitions help somewhat from the car to the store! That way I don't have to fiddle with the sunglasses while in the store.

I had the transition sort a long time back, and found that they went dark in the classroom when the fluorescent lighting was on, or the sun was strong outside! Bit of a pain when I needed to see what the brats were up to in the far dark corners of the room! Like others I didn't think they went dark enough in full strong sunlight (not here in the UK, down on the Loire!). Lately I have had 4 pairs of specs -

Good glass lensed ones with high compression lenses and anti-glare coatings: not worth the extra, as the lenses break too easily! Also, too heavy for my sinus inflicted face...

No compression plastic lenses without any coatings in a cheapo frame - the spares! I tend to wear these a lot as they are more comfortable than my posh ones - they weigh half what the glass lenses do!

Sewing specs - el cheapo frames, plastic lenses, no compression... Really light and great for sewing/reading, but useless beyond fingertip reach! Very light and comfy. I don't plan to change to varifocals yet as my near sight is still changing. I can wear these for long sewing days with no problem.

Prescription sunglasses: mid cost frame, plastic lens (distance prescription only), no compression, dead light and comfy, NOT AT ALL beautiful, but lovely and dark! Haven't had to change them in 4 years, but don't wear them constantly.

My distance prescription hasn't changed in quite a while, but the near sight has, and is still in a state of flux, so I have been advised by the specs folk not to bother with varifocals yet, as the cost would mount up horribly as the near sight changed. I do like my opticians! I need new 'good' specs, as the posh ones (now more than 8 years old, and had several lens changes!) are wearing out. They have had new sides - the hinges went - a new nose pad, and at lest one new lens because the screw threads are wearing out, I lost a screw and a lens dropped into the bathroom wash basin and smashed!

When I can afford to replace them I will have ultra light weight hi-compression plastic lenses, I may have anti glare coatings (though as I no longer work in a fluorescent tube lighting environment, I don't find it necessary), and I will continue to wear my dark sun glasses and a hat when out in the sun! :) The transitions are OK if you like them, but I don't find the benefits worth the extra cash. I'd rather spend it on fabric. Buying specs is a bit like buying a sewing machine - each of us likes different things!

Mine developed a yellowish cast to them after a while - I always have to take them off for color-matching. (Thank goodness I'm near sighted and not far-sighted). ME-Judy

Get them! They are worth every cent. I would never get another pair of glasses without it. I've had them for about 10 years.

Originally, I got them because I was working for a grower, and going in & out of the greenhouse to the warehouse was a nuisance changing glasses all the time.

It's also worth the extra money to get the anti-glare treatment, so that it's easier to read without glare from your reading lamp, and it reduces night glare while driving.

Also, the progressive lenses (no line bi- or tri-focals) are the only way to go. The samples I tried with the lines made me more motion sick than I usually am.

Good luck!

-- Royce A day hemmed in prayer is less likely to unravel.