Does anyone have a pair of those glasses that change automatically from tinted to untinted depending on the light level? I am considering getting a pair, but am just not sure if I will like them. I am a sailor, and so outdoors a whole lot in the summer, and the little clips on the clip-on sunglasses keep breaking off after a year or so. I also wear my glasses in the pool (being a camp counselor also…helps to know where the kids are!)–would that affect the auto changing glasses at all?
I’ve had them before, and was disappointed. They weren’t dark enough outside, and they didn’t turn completely clear indoors unless every trace of sunlight was gone from the room (no open windows).
That was a couple of years ago, however, and they may have gotten better since then.
My husband has Transition lenses in Oakley frames. He swears by them. His only complaint is they don’t transition back to untinted fast enough especially when entering a tunnel. He says that’s only a mild annoyance, though.
I used to have a pair of the “photogray” lenses. They didn’t work well as sunglasses.
Since then I have been using the Solar Shield type that fit over regular frames. The pair I have now are polarized gray tinted. Other shades include brown, green, pink and lavender.
They’re fairly sturdy but I have managed to break several pair on the earpieces.
Just picked up a pair of these, with lightweight plastic lenses… I was told there are two types of photochromatic (?) lenses. One will darken in the car, but will not completely clear indoors. The other will not darken in the car, but darken very well outdoors, and are completely clear indoors. I opted for the latter, and I’m happy with them.
Years ago, I bought a different pair of glasses with photochromatic lenses. The tinting performance was very good, but the lenses were glass, and thus very heavy. They kept sliding down my nose and bugging the heck outta me. I managed to crack one of the lenses somehow and opted not to replace them.
I had those in middle school, and I hated them. First of all, they just screamed “Spaz”, as if I needed to be pushed any further in that direction. Second, I got busted once because of them: I went out when I wasn’t supposed to, and my mom could tell because the lenses were dark.
I was just at the optometrist today and they get pretty dark and clear very well. They are better than they were 4 years ago. I also did not want the type that did not completely clear up when you are inside. They tech mentioned to me that they may not darken in the car because of the UV filters on the windows.Since that is one of my main uses I opted for the clipons.
I have been wearing them for over 20 years. Originally with glass, and I stayed with glass for years after plastic became available simply because I wanted the photogray. At first plastic did not have it available, then it was too expensive. Now I plastic lenses with it and I don’t plan on changing that at any time in the future. I guess you could say I like them.
One problem is that the sun has to actually hit the lens. That means that if you are in a place of shade, and you look at something very bright, you get no relief. Thus, if you are in a motor home or under a tree, and looking out the window at something extremely bright, it is like not having any sunglasses at all.
I have them. They are wonderful. The optometrist told me when I first got them to leave them out in the full sun for a few hours to fully activate the chemicals within.
No, they don’t work in the car, but that’s what sunvisors are for.
