Photochromic Eye Protection

[R120]

Unless you ride in wide open areas with bright sunlight I find glasses with a low light lens work best for MTB

 

[Nicho]

Well they didn’t work well for me all. I bought a prescription pair last year from Vision Express theory being if riding in and out of woods the lenses would react for that perfect solution of darkening in the sun and clearing in the woods/shade. In practice I found that the lag in the transition meant it was often the other way round when in and out of woods giving the worse of both worlds. Gave up on them for riding though still nice to wear for general use.

There are different qualities of photochromic lenses, and I was told that the more you pay the better they are, especially with regard to clarity and speed of transition.

Vision Express are not noted for the best quality products, so you are likely to get something better by going to a specialist sports glasses supplier, such as RXSport.

 

[Nicho]

most photo-reactive lenses don’t work behind car windscreens.

My latest pair of Transitions glasses use a newer type of glass, which apparently is triggered by UV light plus another wavelength, which means that they DO go dark inside a car, althought they do not darken as much as when you are outside.
The downside is that when they are dark they take longer to lighten again than the original Transitions lenses, which work only on UV light.

 

[mtbninja]

I cheat super bad on this. I have ROCKBROS Photochromic glasses I got off ebay for $32 AUD. They are awesome. Day or night. Though they do fog, so I need to keep them cleaned and apply antifog spray. But these are great and so affordable. I've lost 2 sets over the past few years, all my own fault taking them off and forgetting to put them back on, leaving them behind somewhere or other. Because of the price I am not as pained over the replacement costs.

They are tough, durable and made of proper safe materials. Have helped me out in a couple of stacks. They get a couple scuffs but keep performing.

 

[Pyr0]

Can anyone recommend any photochromic sunglasses with polarization as well?
I currently wear some Serengeti Carrara, but don't want to ruin them

 

[Blokie]

I've used prescription frames/lenses from Optilabs for about the last 4 years and they are great. They will even send you sample frames out to try (free) for fit before you order. When you order you just choose the lens options, give them your prescription details and they arrive about a week later. I've changed prescription a couple of times since I bought my frames and I just emailed them with the new stats and sent them my frames and the cost was under half of the original for the new lenses.

Optilabs

 

[Nicho]

Can anyone recommend any photochromic sunglasses with polarization as well?
I currently wear some Serengeti Carrara, but don't want to ruin them

When I was looking for some a few years ago it seemed to be either photochromic OR polarizing lenses, but not both together.

 

[Shinn]

Can anyone recommend any photochromic sunglasses with polarization as well?
I currently wear some Serengeti Carrara, but don't want to ruin them

For polarized I use Transitions Drivewear in a pair of oakleys. Rather spendy but I've been wearing Transitions prescription lenses for years.

I run with my regular glasses if it's too cloudy but the drivewear isn't that dark but does get darker in the car as well.

I was a smith guy for a long time, started wearing their photochromic lenses in the 90's. Perfect for MTB - For me anyway.