Well I'm looking for some of those transactional lenses motorbike riding pretty much, I prefer a darker tint.
Just not sure how much they darken up or there is different grades. But they will be from spec savers if it helps.
Are transitional lenses worth it?
Gros21 on 11/01/2022 - 21:26
Comments
I've heard that also about car use. Around town I use the required Harley matte black Harley helmet.
When I hit highways it's a full face which would be a bit more protected from uv
I always get them but they're never as dark as tinted lenses. Better to have than not I think.
Fellow biker with transitional lenses. The lenses transition slowly enough that you're going to be running a while sub-optimally until they fully transition. This'll happen quickly if the sun is full-on your face, but in recent memory I've not had the lenses be dark enough that I didn't wish I got a helmet with a slide up/down tinted visor for quicker transition. Tinted glasses, at least the ones I got from Specsavers, won't transition instantly.
That all said, it does make a bit of a difference, and if you can get a bit more of an advantage for being able to see while riding, I'd recommend it - worst thing would be to be blinded and lose track of things for any amount of time.
In a car, same as apsilon said - car windscreens are already UV-blocking, so it won't work while driving.
In my anecdotal experience they aren't dark enough and take too long to transition. Having said that, this was from a number of years ago so the technology could have improved.
My partner has be using Convertibles for a while which are a magnetic clip on non-prescription sunglasses that go over their prescription glasses. Edit: upon rereading, this probably doesn't help you with your use case but.
Also heard they darken very quickly, but don't brighten up until some time.
Seems like the added cost and all their downsides, you'd be better off getting two separate glasses. One that's dedicated for indoors/low-light and the other for outdoors/sun-glasses.
I have prescription transitional lenses, about 2 years old, great for sunny days when I'm outside a lot.
They darken fairly quickly but it takes a while for the tint to completely lighten up.
Probably not worth what they cost, tinted lenses would be cheaper and the amount of tint could be chosen to suit the user's personal needs.
I have these in my prescription glasses: https://www.transitions.com/en-us/products/drivewear-transit…
While they don't go all clear they are pretty good for driving/cycling when it is a normal day, but they are always tinted to some degree, the colour of the tint changes. When it is gloomy or dusk/dawn they might be too dark though.I have them for several years already. I have high prescription index and it is a lot of hassle to carry more than one pair of glasses during day out. They are more convenient and much better than the normal. Though the transition speed slow down after a few years you will notice. But I am trying to get a new pair every 2 years or so, it is not really a problem.
The problem is the price in OZ for the transition lens is ridiculous. I always get them when I was traveling overseas which is much more reasonable especially for my high index lens with multi-focal plus transition.
Not exactly what you're after, but I have a transitional visor for my Bell helmet. Can't remember how much I paid as it was a good few years ago, but the the performance of it has been great. I'm always comfortable riding with it no matter what the weather conditions are. Could be another option for you.
Transitional lenses used to not transition dark enough but these days, they are really good.
I have been using transitional lenses for 7 years. Turn dark quick, but clear up slow. The tint is also quite dark. Dark enough to be a proper pair of sunnies. Since I have used transitional lenses, I have rarely used contacts and sunnies.
Love them. I will always get transitional lenses now.
They usually cost $100-150 more. I am happy to pay that.I got a pair of glasses from spec savers with transitional lenses. They are pretty decent.
while driving they do not usually turn very dark as the windscreen reduces the UV coming through.
while skiing, even if it is overcast and foggy, they still darkens as uv is higher in the mountains. (I was lazy to wear contacts so I just went out with glasses)I've used them for probably 15 years or more and love them.
As others have stated, can take a while to lighten up, doesn't go as dark as some sunnies, and won't work behind the windscreen of a car, typically. As such, I still have prescription sunglasses for driving and when going from a sunny day to a dark room it can be a pain briefly, but all in all would highly recommend.
Man the hassle of having to take off my glasses, putting the prescription sunglasses on for driving made me give up on sunnies entirely for driving.
I now only wear sunnies when I am going out with contact lenses so maybe 2-3 times a month lol.
I haven't had them for a while so things may have changed but there were different lenses and some could get darker than others. The thing I didn't like most about them was I couldn't use them driving as they require UV to activate but the windscreen blocks enough UV to prevent it. Bike may be OK though I guess it depends on the visor. Maybe there's other types now but thought it worth mentioning.