Transition lenses - are they any good?

Raymond Lin · 29 Aug 2020 at 20:23

EdwardTeach said:
Is that so no one can see where you are looking!

I want to be like Neo.

Werewolf · 29 Aug 2020 at 22:31

Begbie said:
Sunshine via a window doesn't affect it?

Most modern window glass IIRC blocks enough of the UV to stop it working, especially double glazing.

Certainly I can't remember mine ever activating due to light when indoors, be it at home or in the likes of a shopping centre with glass walls,

M1k3H · 29 Aug 2020 at 23:46

I got mine 3 years ago, after getting tired of choosing between "can't see past my nose" or "blinded by the sun". Fantastic lenses. They are not as dark as my Ray Bans, but dark enough for me not to get blinded by the sun. They can take 20 seconds to get to transparent again if I was out for a long time, but that's not an issue, unless going from very bright outside, to very dark inside, which nearly never happens. My eyes feel more rested as well, due to them blocking some of the brightness, so much so that when I wore lenses for the first time after I had them, I couldn't look without squinting for the first hour.

In a car, I've never felt the need to wear sunglasses, so don't mind that they don't go dark, although not an issue if I pop the roof down

. Which if it's sunny enough to need sunglasses, I will!

Tephnos · 30 Aug 2020 at 00:17

Werewolf said:
Most modern window glass IIRC blocks enough of the UV to stop it working, especially double glazing.

Certainly I can't remember mine ever activating due to light when indoors, be it at home or in the likes of a shopping centre with glass walls,

Mhm, probably activated by UVB then. Windows let UVA (the skin ageing one) cleanly pass through.

Begbie · 30 Aug 2020 at 08:18

Werewolf said:
Most modern window glass IIRC blocks enough of the UV to stop it working, especially double glazing.

Certainly I can't remember mine ever activating due to light when indoors, be it at home or in the likes of a shopping centre with glass walls,

Fair enough, I've seen a lot of people have them activate at work in the past. Probably because the buildings are cheap....

fobose · 30 Aug 2020 at 08:51

As others have said, I wouldn't bother as they really are a pain. I had them when I was younger and they would take far too long to lighten up when going in side. I also found that the sun would still blind me as the lenses were not big enough to block out most of the sun any way.

Prescription sunglasses are where it's at. I walked in to 'boots' opticians armed with my latest prescription and bought myself two pairs. One stays in my car, the other in my work bag.

GSXRMovistar · 30 Aug 2020 at 09:58

Had a set years back, my thoughts echo the above about them not transitioning quick enough, also Standard frames with tinted/dark glass..you look a dick, Sunglass frames with clear glass..you look a dick.

Get a decent set of prescription sunglasses.

Robert · 30 Aug 2020 at 10:54

Transition all the way, why on earth would I want to carry multiple sets?

Also, some of the comments in this thread, sorry my eyesight is an inconvenience and I should consult the fashion police ahead of my own convenience.

does it bother me that they can be a bit slow? No, that to me is the lesser of two evils.

Jonny2284 · 30 Aug 2020 at 11:15

To be honest I don't think they do transition that slowly. Takes about 30 seconds when coming indoors, and to be frank if you're making judgement based on somebody having dark glasses for a few seconds after walking indoors, they most certainly aren't the dick in that equation.

jpaul · 30 Aug 2020 at 11:46

In a car, I've never felt the need to wear sunglasses, so don't mind that they don't go dark

if they are not going to work, in a car, I'm out, although, seems to be, a probably more expensive option, which could then be triggered indoors;
https://www.essilor.co.uk/lenses/photochromic-transitions/xtractive

Standard photochromic lenses activate when exposed to UV. Modern windscreens block UV light. Transitions XTRActive lenses darken behind the windscreen of a car because of the unique technology they have, which responds to visible light, as well as UV, to protect your eyes from glare and sunlight while driving.

Also can you get transitions in a practical sports frame (cycling/running...) since they'd need to replace fixed-brown/polarized I use for sport/driving.

FoxEye · 30 Aug 2020 at 13:00

Jonny2284 said:
To be honest I don't think they do transition that slowly. Takes about 30 seconds when coming indoors, and to be frank if you're making judgement based on somebody having dark glasses for a few seconds after walking indoors, they most certainly aren't the dick in that equation.

Quite sad isn't it.

GSXRMovistar · 30 Aug 2020 at 13:48

Haha I think I touched some nerves with my earlier comments, just my opinion and that’s from someone who was wearing a pair.

Maybe I’ve not seen the right frames just never seen a pair that look decent in both situations (clear/tinted).

Also found they had a habit of tinting in normal daylight when not required, hence looking like the dick with sunglasses on when not needed.

Werewolf · 30 Aug 2020 at 14:56

GSXRMovistar said:
Haha I think I touched some nerves with my earlier comments, just my opinion and that’s from someone who was wearing a pair.

Maybe I’ve not seen the right frames just never seen a pair that look decent in both situations (clear/tinted).

Also found they had a habit of tinting in normal daylight when not required, hence looking like the dick with sunglasses on when not needed.

If they're "tinting in normal daylight" then there is enough UV light for them to react, which means they're doing their job of protecting your eyes from the UV. It can seem overcast/dull but you can still be getting most of the UV you would on a sunny day, in this instance the transitions are actually better than dedicated sunglasses as they offer the protection when you wouldn't normally think of it (remember you can get sunburned on an overcast day in the summer).

dirtychinchilla · 30 Aug 2020 at 17:42

GSXRMovistar said:
Haha I think I touched some nerves with my earlier comments, just my opinion and that’s from someone who was wearing a pair.

Maybe I’ve not seen the right frames just never seen a pair that look decent in both situations (clear/tinted).

Also found they had a habit of tinting in normal daylight when not required, hence looking like the dick with sunglasses on when not needed.

I fully agree with you though. If your lenses are still transitioning you look weird. I’m also not convinced that sunglasses should be in the same frames as normal lenses and vice versa

Robert · 30 Aug 2020 at 20:16

GSXRMovistar said:
Haha I think I touched some nerves with my earlier comments, just my opinion and that’s from someone who was wearing a pair.

Maybe I’ve not seen the right frames just never seen a pair that look decent in both situations (clear/tinted).

Also found they had a habit of tinting in normal daylight when not required, hence looking like the dick with sunglasses on when not needed.

jeez, you pulled that card? You say people look like a dick, they react and you say you e touched a nerve?

GSXRMovistar · 30 Aug 2020 at 21:44

Robert said:
jeez, you pulled that card? You say people look like a dick, they react and you say you e touched a nerve?

Hey I included myself in the dick description from my own personal experience, and my own personal opinion still stands, just wasn’t expecting anyone to really care/get upset.

Angilion · 30 Aug 2020 at 21:45

Begbie said:
They don't just get dark in the sun though, they also get dark inside too. Or everyone I've seen wear them, they do.

They aren't asthetically pleasing, to me and I'd never wear a pair. (I do wear glasses too).

They react to UV light, so if they darken indoors there's a fair bit of UV indoors. That should only happen in a room with at least fairly large windows that don't block UV.

Raymond Lin said:
They also are not 100% dark, I want my sunglasses to be dark enough people can't see my eyes, better still like a mirror. Transition lenses doesn't do that. It constantly sits between the 2, it's like 10% grey to about 70% grey. I personally rather have totally clear and totally dark.

If your glasses are 100% dark, you wouldn't be able to see through them.

My photochromic lenses get dark enough for people to not be able to see my eyes. Or for me to be able to see in normal lighting.

jpaul · 30 Aug 2020 at 21:49

the new ones don't just react to uv .

edit : I was thinking David Brent , or David Soul too, used to wear them ?

Raymond Lin · 30 Aug 2020 at 21:53

Angilion said:
They react to UV light, so if they darken indoors there's a fair bit of UV indoors. That should only happen in a room with at least fairly large windows that don't block UV.

If your glasses are 100% dark, you wouldn't be able to see through them.

My photochromic lenses get dark enough for people to not be able to see my eyes. Or for me to be able to see in normal lighting.

when I say 100% dark I mean the other people can’t see my eyes. And I like my sunglasses to be polarised. Both of which is impossible on translation lenses.

Werewolf · 31 Aug 2020 at 06:10

jpaul said:
the new ones don't just react to uv .

edit : I was thinking David Brent , or David Soul too, used to wear them ?

IIRC they're a specific version not the normal ones.