Wearing dark sunglasses

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Fair enough
And you're right about the cost and range of prescription sunglasses. Doesn't make much sense to me as there are so many people who wear prescription glasses.

I wear prescription glasses, so I use these stretch frame/ clip on. I use them all year long, and I cannot go anywhere without them.

Last edited by fleurdelily on 22 Jul 2012, 5:11 am, edited 1 time in total.

Anyone ever had transitions lenses? I hated them, they just sucked.

yes I did, and you are so right

I got the same problem, and I'm using sunglasses all year round (except night, indoors or under heavy overcast sky) so I'll give you advice:

Prescription sunglasses are horribly expensive - because they are usually labelled "sport" or "designer" sunglasses - and you're just paying for its name.

I'm using "police" or "army" sunglasses with Rx inserts, they are the best (got the same sun-protection as "designer" glasses, in addition they are really durable, if you break or scratch something - you just have to change that part, and if you have to change power of glasses - you just go to optic to change lenses in Rx insert).

And they are usually really cheap (probably because it "just" "protection equipment" not a "designer" thing)

I recommend ESS Ice or Peltor Ballistic glasses (just remember to order Rx insert with them, it comes as accessory - but sometimes you can buy it as a set)
Bobster Spektrax are cool too

I can only wear dark sunglasses when it's sunny. I can't when it's cloudy. I feel too claustrophobic.

I went for a buy one pair get one free deal for normal prescription glasses - I just stuck sunglasses lenses in the second free pair. The sunglasses cost me nothing, and a lot of "normal" frames pass for sunglasses anyhow

Also for 10 bucks tinted my normal glasses a mid pink so I can wear them when I work and my bosses can't tell me to take them off

*edit* Somehow when I came here to reply I missed like 12 replies.. not sure how... but I agree back as a teen the tinted glasses were icky... but the frames I got now are really pretty with the tints in.. I think it had to do with the hideous styles back then. The regular frames I chose to turn into sunglasses DO look like the most expensive sunglasses out there.... if you look - you can find something. It took me a lot of time and quite a few opticians, but it was well worth it in the end.

I have worn glass photochromic lenses for many years now. I think they are great. They do take a little while to react but you get used to that after a while. The only problem I have with them is that in cold weather they tend to go darker than they need to be.

It is getting hard to find glass lenses so I recently tried plastic Transitions lenses and was seriously underwhelmed. They don't go anywhere near dark enough. I complained to my optician and they are giving me a discount on some Transitions XTRActive lenses which they assure me go much darker. They also have a permanent light tint which suits me. I'll find out how well they work in about a week...


You can get tinted prescription lenses to suit any glasses in a range from a mild tint to virtually black.

@JoeRose If you find dark lenses help then use them. If anyone comments just say you have a problem with your eyes and they are very sensitive to light.

@RazorEddie - I have plastic transition lenses and absolutely find them useless. They don't even go dark in a car. They barely go half as dark as I need them to in full sunlight. Hate them and disappointed on a very expensive purchase! Glad you are able to get a discount for a better pair... will be hoping for you!

One of the things I disliked about them was that they didn't change tint unless the sun was directly hitting my eyes - so any time I was in a car, they wouldn't be tinted, and I needed sunglasses badly due to the light coming in through the windows. They also could have been darker - they were also plastic, so they might be the type you had that didn't satisfy you.

Most photochromic lenses (including Transitions) are triggered by ultra violet light. Most car windscreens block UV so they don't work properly in a car. Supposedly the XTRActive lenses will work to a degree in a car, though they won't go as dark. I'll reserve judgement until I try them.

Thankfully I live in LA where wearing sunglasses every single day of the year is considered perfectly normal.

I like my shades. It's sunny here, and I wear them frequently.

Anyone tried Irlen method colored lenses? I'm considering them, but it's $150 for the screening and more for the right lenses if they can help.

I've thought of the same thing, but even though i'm from the US and it is sunny part of the time, that i wouldn't get away with wearing them all the time - people might be offended that i never take them off, even indoors.

Unless an explanation for wearing them all the time is acceptable to others, like "i'm wearing these all the time because......."

If there were sunglasses that didn't look like sunglasses but blotted the eyes out - like some foggy look, now that is a possibility but doubt there is such a thing (wish there was)

Last edited by tjr1243 on 22 Jul 2012, 10:54 pm, edited 2 times in total.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to afford them. But I did look into them. My eye doctor worked with me and let me retint my glasses as many times as I needed to get a tint that worked best for me. They are not perfect by far.. but they are way better than glasses without a color tint