Buying prescription glasses online is a terrible mistake.
Are Transitions Lenses still a fashion faux pas?
- Thread starter Dr_Boris_Goltz
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HuskerDutheDu
Member
Transition lenses are the dewbiest shit ever.
I tried them (figured they would be good for motorcycling). IMHO they suck both on a functional level and a fashion one. It turns out your car windshield (and good motorcycle helmets) filter out UV Rays needed to activate them. Even when they worked 1-2 seconds of blindness walking into stores was unacceptable. They also never went fully dark or fully clear, I would always have to take them off when doing color corrections. The coating is also very weak, I took them to the beach one day and they delaminated in places. The optometrist said they would replace them under warranty but I said no thanks give me normal lenses.
My family also made fun of me for wearing them, as I imagine other people were behind my back.
My family also made fun of me for wearing them, as I imagine other people were behind my back.
razgriz417
Member
Yeah my old CRV had a UV coating I never noticed since used to just drive with my regular glasses lol
freenudemacusers
Member
I work in the Optical business (going on ~5 years now) and.. have never heard of such a stigma. Transitions are awful for cycling, dedicated motorcycle/sports sunglasses are best for that.
Yes, any modern car will have UV filtering that prevents Transitions from changing (as the material inside, Silver Halide reacts to direct UV rays in order to change color). BUT, there are newer transition lenses that I believe only Nikon uses at the moment that actually activates in the car!
If you had that many issues with that, whatever optical shop you bought them from may be cheaping out on you or this is an anecdote about glasses you bought over 10 years ago. (Modern lenses wouldn't give you that many issues at all)
Nappuccino
Member
I have them and I'm mostly happy with them. They look pretty fine to me . . . not sure how they transition into a faux pas. They transition a lot more quickly than they used to, that's for sure. But if you don't get transitions, you should get prescription sunglasses to protect your eyes.
……forgetit
Member
Never knew about the stigma, better than being blind while driving.
Zalusithix
Member
How long ago was this? The lenses have gone through a number of iterations. I've had them since the 90s, and the newer ones are quite a bit different beasts from back then. The old ones had odd color shifts, didn't go all the way after a time, etc. Never had them delaminate though, so I'd toss that up to a freak occurrence.
As to the blindness on coming in from outside... You're going to experience something like that with normal sunglasses as well until you take them off and replace them with another pair of regular glasses. Driving wise, I rarely need them due to my height making the sun less of an issue. However, I do have a dedicated set of sunglasses for that purpose should I need them. Easy enough to leave them in the vehicle 24/7.
clearacell
Member
If you work at a job where the lighting constantly changes they are very functional (e.g. a construction worker) but otherwise I don't see the point.
I dont think they go completely dark. And when you go inside it takes a few minutes for them to go normal. So for a few minutes you look like an 90s R&B singer.
AstroNut325
Member
Ah... Thank you. Now I underatand. Not sure how they are a fashion faux pas. I don't own a pair with them but I know several people who do.
But... I do that all the time!
I've never heard of any stigma against Transition lenses before, but I guess there could be.
I just ordered a new pair of glasses (before my HSA expired) and I got transition lenses for them. I already have a pair that I wear at the office, so I wanted something to wear for outside activities (baseball and golf mainly) and my ball games are often during the night while the odd afternoon game and golf is obviously when the sun is out.
I bought a pair of Adidas Raylor that seem to look, and work, well so far. I've mainly wore them during the day so far, but even when driving at night they have worked well for me.
I just ordered a new pair of glasses (before my HSA expired) and I got transition lenses for them. I already have a pair that I wear at the office, so I wanted something to wear for outside activities (baseball and golf mainly) and my ball games are often during the night while the odd afternoon game and golf is obviously when the sun is out.
I bought a pair of Adidas Raylor that seem to look, and work, well so far. I've mainly wore them during the day so far, but even when driving at night they have worked well for me.
This was 2-3 years ago from a good shop. I don't have the paperwork anymore but I am pretty sure they where the transitions trademark coating. I work in graphic design and do a lot of product photography so accurate color is critical. Trying to look through a dim viewfinder and not having clear glass was a real pain. I found them to be an obstacle to vision more often than a help.
I would love a pair I could switch from full on to off with a button or something but I did not enjoy the experience of my glasses randomly changing as much as I thought I would.
robotzombie
Member
Kitschkraft
Member
Might as well wear a pocket-protector, NERD!
Honestly...I've never heard of these types of glasses or of the stigma attached to them.
Do you.
Honestly...I've never heard of these types of glasses or of the stigma attached to them.
Do you.
Septimus Prime
Member
I've read about those! Supposedly those work with changes in the visible spectrum, as opposed to UV.
When I had transition lenses, I hated them. Not only did they not work in the car, when I needed them most, they also continued to darken a bit at night (residual UV?)--enough to give me blurred vision.
For my current glasses, I just got the glare reduction coating instead.
Zalusithix
Member
Photography + shaded lenses of any type = no go. This is especially true if you're using a mirror-less camera with an EVF due to the lower light output. I have a pair of standard lenses for that purpose. Contacts would technically be better, but I can't be bothered with those.
Resident4t.
Member
What if you are hiding something?
radios shipping overview
Member
Whenever I've seen them on somebody, they always seem to be about half-darkened. The difference between typical daylight and indoor light levels is so massive that it doesn't make much sense to try to use one pair to solve both problems.
And yeah, they look pretty fuckin' dorky. M'lady.
And yeah, they look pretty fuckin' dorky. M'lady.
Cosmo Clock 21
Banned
The one guy I knew irl who had transition lenses was a gigantic tool, so that's my story
ClayKavalier
Banned
I have transitions. My eyes are sensitive enough that I don't like to be outside when it's bright without sunglasses, and carrying around two separate pairs of glasses to switch between every time I walk indoors or outdoors seems like a huge pain.
I'm still in school though, if I was in an office all day I'd just get two pairs of glasses.
I can't find the exact frames I have, but they're something like this.
As far as them being a faux pas, I've always been vaguely aware that they're not cool. Honestly I don't think I've ever met someone else who owns a pair. My wife fucking hates them, she tried to convince me not to get a pair the last time I bought frames but like I said, constantly carrying around two pairs of glasses does not sound fun.
I'm still in school though, if I was in an office all day I'd just get two pairs of glasses.
I can't find the exact frames I have, but they're something like this.
As far as them being a faux pas, I've always been vaguely aware that they're not cool. Honestly I don't think I've ever met someone else who owns a pair. My wife fucking hates them, she tried to convince me not to get a pair the last time I bought frames but like I said, constantly carrying around two pairs of glasses does not sound fun.
This makes no sense.
They look like a normal pair of glasses except they darken a bit to protect your vision in UV sunlight. Unless you're in direct sunlight, they're the same as any glasses. It's just an option in your prescription. I just had them added to my prescription to protect my eyes when I'm out in the sun.
I think there's something fundamentally flawed in most of the logic in this thread. I had no idea people disliked transitions but it's absolutely childish to have anything against them.
I'm reminded of this tweet by comedian Rob Delaney whenever I see transitions lenses:
There is definitely a very strong stigma around them.
It doesn't even make sense because they only slightly darken, they don't darken to the point where you can't see what people are looking at.
AbortedWalrusFetus
Member
So, I don't need glasses or any vision aids, can someone explain why there is a stigma against these? Seems like it would be convenient.
Because society builds moronic stigmas, apparently.
davepoobond
you can't put a price on sparks
i think they're kinda dumb now. also they dont really work unless they are exposed to UV
i do have a pair, but never really used them.
i do have a pair, but never really used them.
ElectricKaibutsu
Member
I've been wearing transitions with these frames since '08:
No one has ever said anything to me about them.
That makes zero sense. How is that different from sunglasses?
No one has ever said anything to me about them.
I'm reminded of this tweet by comedian Rob Delaney whenever I see transitions lenses:
There is definitely a very strong stigma around them.
That makes zero sense. How is that different from sunglasses?
Agreed. I don't wear transitions, but I understand the appeal. Having to carry around multiple pairs of glasses is a pain in the ass, which is why I did contacts and then Lasik, but any "stigma" about these could just as easily be attributed to fucking sun glasses, including that stupid tweet.
"Oh noes! His prescription glasses slightly darken outside..must be a perv, or a dork..derp, derp!@@!"
Some of you kids and your hang ups are silly.
This is the first I've ever heard of this stigma, and I've had them for years. They don't work nearly as well as actual sunglasses, but I don't wear them in place of my actual prescription sunglasses, I wear them to make walks between buildings on hot summer days sting my eyes less. If I'm going outdoors for any length of time I grab my actual sunglasses, but transitions are a nice functional halfway for every day use.
Why? Just make sure to try the exact pair in person before buying online.
I don't know about the US, but in the UK, the difference between online and shop prices is ridiculous.
theepicoftyler
Member
I think the stigma comes from the brief period where it looks like you're the cool guy wearing sunglasses inside. At least that's what I always perceived.
It's obviously not intentional, but it's attention grabbing and I think as such perceived as attention seeking.
It's obviously not intentional, but it's attention grabbing and I think as such perceived as attention seeking.
MidgarBlowedUp
Member
never worked when i had a pair. I'd get to school and only one side was dark.
I've never bought prescription glasses online, but my concern would be if I couldn't expense them against my benefits for some reason. Probably wouldn't be a problem as long as I had a valid receipt... but that would be my worry.
Cannon Goose
Member
This is definitely the way to go if your eyes are suited for contacts.
Hero Prinny
Member
i got me a pair of em last year, I like em. sun doesn't bother me much now. also didn't know they were unfashionable or whatever you'd like to call em. I like them and I'll most likely buy another pair like em. like why would i buy a pair of sunglasses with prescription and start carrying 2 pairs of glasses with me when i go out on a sunny day when i can just get 1 pair of glasses that does the job, no thanks, transitions all the way.
Dr_Boris_Goltz
Banned
Contacts are pretty lousy when both eyes have astigmatism.
I used to wear transitions, now l just get 3 pairs (I have to get something out of my private health cover!):
- Everyday pair with anti reflection
- Sunglasses with prescription, UV tint (Used for driving, or sunny days ect)
- Steel frame with prescription and transition (used for sport, plastic frames have just snapped in the past)
In my opinion I wouldn't get transition in my everyday glasses as it does look a little dated.
- Everyday pair with anti reflection
- Sunglasses with prescription, UV tint (Used for driving, or sunny days ect)
- Steel frame with prescription and transition (used for sport, plastic frames have just snapped in the past)
In my opinion I wouldn't get transition in my everyday glasses as it does look a little dated.
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