Transition Lenses

[PigletsPal2]

Does anyone have any recent experience with transition lenses? DH is about to get new glasses, and he's considering the transition lenses as he gets a lot of use out his sunglasses, but it's annoying to have to change from one to the other.

He had transition lenses many years ago, but they didn't stay dark when he was driving and took too long (in his opinion) to change from light to dark and vice versa. Have they improved any over the past 20 years? We don't have vision insurance so it's all out-of-pocket and his glasses aren't cheap.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Queen Colleen

 

[FergieTCat]

I had them a few years ago. I didn't like them because the finish scratched easily. I also didn't think they were dark enough, and they took too long to change.

I prefer switching to sunglasses.

 

[BearcatsFan]

Does anyone have any recent experience with transition lenses? DH is about to get new glasses, and he's considering the transition lenses as he gets a lot of use out his sunglasses, but it's annoying to have to change from one to the other.

He had transition lenses many years ago, but they didn't stay dark when he was driving and took too long (in his opinion) to change from light to dark and vice versa. Have they improved any over the past 20 years? We don't have vision insurance so it's all out-of-pocket and his glasses aren't cheap.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.

Queen Colleen

Love mine. I can't stand having to switch back and forth between sunglasses and regular. I think they change colors quickly. The transitions coating has held up well on mine (my glasses are 3 years old). Well worth the money, IMHO. They also have a couple of different shades to choose from now (I think brown and grey, IIRC).

 

[Pakey]

I work at a company with many buildings so I like them for the quick walk. Otherwise, I'd much prefer sunglasses that get darker.

I agree on the finish. Mine are shot in 2 years. I can hardly see out of them.

 

[kim929]

My dh has them. He gets annoyed when driving, they don't help much cause the sun doesn't hit them all the time, he just bought a new pair and had transitions put on them so it's not enough of a problem that he won't get them.



I hate them. I have a problem with my eyes so I can't tolerate them when they are changing, my eyes can't adjust correctly so I hate them. I get prescription sunglasses and since the light bothers my eyes I keep them on all the time, sometimes I don't realize I have them on.

 

[Mokat76]

I like mine but they aren't of any use in the car. I have sunglasses for that, but for all other uses, Transitions lenses are great. Mine have lasted well over 5 years with little damage.

 

[usnuzuloose]

I hated going in somewhere and then it took forever to get them to go back to normal. That was maddening

 

[maelstrom]

My husband loves his Transitions lenses. I'll be getting Transitions when I get my new glasses soon.

 

[PigletsPal2]

Thanks everyone. I'll have DH read this thread and then he can decide. As usual, DIS-ers have been most helpful.

Queen Colleen

 

[NHdisneylover]

DD16 got her new pair in October 2011. She is a teen, ears hers daily, OFTEN falls asleep in them furious: ) and the coating is not scratched or worn in the slightest
The pair she had before that lasted three years with no coating problems (replaced due to a changed prescription).

She adores hers--and they get very dark (you can choose from a few shades and colors, she went with the darkest grey tint).

She does not drive--but mine work fine in the car. I hate driving without them and dealing with glare. My glasses finally broke (and arm--not a lens issue) and I am holding off on getting new ones until I am in the states next--so I am wearing a cheap pair that is not transitions and using sunglasses over, or contact
s with sunglasses and the transitions were at least as good in the car--without the hassle.

 

[LuLuO]

IMHO they don't get dark enough when driving. And, when I'm outside, I forget that I have them on and that is annoying in photos. I always have to remember to take them off. Then, it takes a long time for them to return to normal inside, but sometimes they stay tinted indoors. They are not for me and I won't be getting them again.

On another note when I got my new glasses I got the anti-glare coating not knowing that lenses scratch more easily with that coating. Luckily I got the replacement insurance because I had to get a new pair after six months because they were scratched so badly. I requested they leave off the anti-glare coating. No scratches this time around. I should have requested regular lenses instead of transitions too, but I didn't.

 

[Morganpics]

DH had them. He did not like them for the same reasons as others here - they would not darken in the car. Also, during cold weather they would darken and take forever to lighten when he would come inside. I've never had them and had no desire to.

 

[I Love Pluto]

I LOVE my Transitions lenses, and would be LOST without them.

I do agree that they don't darken in the car, but they have advanced quite a bit over the lenses from 20 years ago. They get lighter quicker & they darken quicker than before. Seriously - I cannot imagine a pair of glasses without them!

 

[wendypooh]

My DS 13 got them about 6/7 months ago, he loves them. He also wears his glasses constantly, no scratches or anthing and they transition fast in my opinion, just a few seconds it seems like.

 

[riley2008]

My DS has had them since age 6. LOVES them. We only replace them yearly for prescription change.

 

[traces7]

My DH has them and says he'll never get them again. They stay too dark after he comes inside, especially when it's cold outside, and he's outside a lot. Sometimes I think they even get too dark when he's outside, again especially in the cold. Last weekend he had to come in and get a pair of his old regular glasses, because they were so dark when he was going in and out of the garage that he couldn't see what he was doing.

I have prescription sunglasses that I really like, DH is going to try those next time. I just have the previous prescription made into sunglasses when I get a new pair of glasses.

 

[indimom]

My DH has them and says he'll never get them again. They stay too dark after he comes inside, especially when it's cold outside, and he's outside a lot. Sometimes I think they even get too dark when he's outside, again especially in the cold. Last weekend he had to come in and get a pair of his old regular glasses, because they were so dark when he was going in and out of the garage that he couldn't see what he was doing.

I have prescription sunglasses that I really like, DH is going to try those next time. I just have the previous prescription made into sunglasses when I get a new pair of glasses.

If you don't mind me asking, what does that run? DD needs sunglasses outside and just recently started wearing a prescription.
We didn't get transitions because the doctor told us they would not work in the car and she needs the shades to drive. We got clip on shades and they stink. We've been through two pairs in a matter of months. Very flimsy and easy to scratch.
She'll be due for new glasses in the spring and this would be a perfect solution to our problem!

 

[traces7]

If you don't mind me asking, what does that run? DD needs sunglasses outside and just recently started wearing a prescription.
We didn't get transitions because the doctor told us they would not work in the car and she needs the shades to drive. We got clip on shades and they stink. We've been through two pairs in a matter of months. Very flimsy and easy to scratch.
She'll be due for new glasses in the spring and this would be a perfect solution to our problem!

I can't remember exactly how much it cost, it was a couple years ago I did this, but I'm pretty sure it was under $100 dollars.

 

[I loveStitchnippyjon]

Transition lenses DON'T work in the car because of the glass in the car windows filtering out much of the UV rays that cause the lenses to change. I keep a pair of prescription sunglasses in the car just for driving. Otherwise I have been very happy with Transitions.
I did ask about tinting my old pair of regular glasses to become sunglasses, and was told that this cannot be done if the lenses have a non-glare coating on them.

 

[indimom]

Transition lenses DON'T work in the car because of the glass in the car windows filtering out much of the UV rays that cause the lenses to change. I keep a pair of prescription sunglasses in the car just for driving. Otherwise I have been very happy with Transitions.
I did ask about tinting my old pair of regular glasses to become sunglasses, and was told that this cannot be done if the lenses have a non-glare coating on them.

Shoot. DD has an issue with glare and we got her glasses coated. Sounds like we won't be able to turn them into sunglasses when she gets her next pair. Bummer. Oh well, I'll check into it and keep looking. I would love to find an alternative that doesn't involve paying for two pairs of glasses for $600+ every year. Blah.