Glasses wearers- Has anyone bought Transitions lenses and regretted it?

[ChrisFL]

I'm getting new glasses in a few weeks and considering whether I want the Transitions option or not.

Opinions?

 

[Geoff_M]

I had them many years ago and stopped getting them with new glasses. My complaints were two-fold:
1) They never were "tint free". This may have improved with time with development of the technology, but when I had them there was still a noticeable tint to the glasses when I was indoors.
2) They seemed to make by eyes more sensitive to light. I think my eyes "got used" to having the lenses protect them from bright lights. After I stopped getting Transition lenses I found myself squinting a lot more in daylight. I wear a baseball cap at pretty much all times when outdoors, even years later. Otherwise I cannot stop squinting.

 

[ahutton]

I don't regret it for a moment. I love them, and wear them all the time. I resisted at first, bought regular glasses and sunglasses, but I rarely use those two pairs...

 

[msjprincess]

Years ago I regretted it. But back then they weren't made as well and eventually looked tinted all the time. I've had my current pair for over 2 years and they're still as clear as the day I bought them. I love them.

 

[Procrastinate]

I don't regret it, but they aren't perfect. My main problem with them is that they don't get dark when you are driving because of the UV protection in windshields. I have not had a pair get tinted all the time, but they do seem slow to transition back when I go inside.

 

[msjprincess]

I don't regret it, but they aren't perfect. My main problem with them is that they don't get dark when you are driving because of the UV protection in windshields. I have not had a pair get tinted all the time, but they do seem slow to transition back when I go inside.

When I bought mine they warned me that they wouldn't work while driving.

 

[mnrose]

Had them once and will NEVER get them again. I found them extremely annoying. Mostly because you could never see my eyes in photos! And, tunnels while driving were a problem.

Nope. I'd rather use clip on sunglasses, which is what I do now.

 

[NHdisneylover]

I got my first pair of transitions 19 yeara ago, and every pair I have gotten since is transitions--the technology seems to improve every time (they transition back to clear fastr now than they used to, for example). I love them.

 

[disney world dreamer]

i did.
i hated that they always had a slight tint to them even when they were not transitioning.
i also hated how long it took for them to go from dark tint to normal tint.
every time i'd walk indoors whether it be at home, a store, or especially a restaurant i had to take off my glasses in order to get around for the first 5 minutes because the glasses were just too dark.
i also hated that they are made so that they very easily get dark in cold weather but i need them to get dark the most in the summer when there's lots of sun.
another couple things i hated was that due to the uv protection in car windows they would not change in the car so i needed sunglasses anyways (if you have metal frames they do have magnetic attachment sunglasses. my parents have them but i can't get them because my frames are plastic).
and i could not wear a hat and have them change much.
after a couple of years of dealing with those things i got new lenses without the transition coating.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I have had them in the past plenty of times.

I do not get them now because I hate having them change in photos and they don't change for driving, so I would rather have 2 pairs.

 

[cybrkitn]

I just switched last year from glass lenses with photograys (sp?) to plastic with transitions since the photograys are getting phased out. So far no problems at all. They do get darker than the photograys did. A PP poster mentioned having to squint. I get tend to do that as well. But that is b/c I was still getting sunlight coming down from above my glasses. Wearing a baseball style hat has worked out great for me.

 

[Laura66]

I'm having this decision to make as well.
They are pricey - but you can get lenses that will change in the car - even with the uv protection on the windshield.
Ugh! For every positive comment there is a negative one!

 

[HM]

My son had them. They were useless for driving. The coating on the car window kept them from transitioning to sunglasses. Plus he was a lifeguard and they were inadequate at the pool. Ended up getting him regular glasses and sunglases and he's much happier.

 

[bookgirl]

I'm getting new glasses in a few weeks and considering whether I want the Transitions option or not.

Opinions?

They won't work as driving sunglasses. The auto glass has some shielding so the glasses will not darken. Hated them for that.

However they were great for open air/outdoor shopping malls and Disney because I only wore that pair and didn't have to change from indoors to out.

 

[Laura66]

My son had them. They were useless for driving. The coating on the car window kept them from transitioning to sunglasses. Plus he was a lifeguard and they were inadequate at the pool. Ended up getting him regular glasses and sunglases and he's much happier.

These ones are add about 100 bucks to the price of your lenses but I was told these are specifically made to address that problem. Regular transistion lenses won't work in the car because of the uv treatment on the windshield. Apparently there's some new technology that does this. Not all lens makers are able to offer this.

 

[ThisIsJason]

I have had Transitions for years now. Doesn't cost anything extra with my eye insurance. I just got glasses with Transitions XTRActive about a week ago. They do change slightly in the car. I have always liked Transitions, they do seem to work better now than before (would take quite a long time to go back to normal, when going from a sunlight to a dark room quickly, not as bad anymore).

 

[Laura66]

I have had Transitions for years now. Doesn't cost anything extra with my eye insurance. I just got glasses with Transitions XTRActive about a week ago. They do change slightly in the car. I have always liked Transitions, they do seem to work better now than before (would take quite a long time to go back to normal, when going from a sunlight to a dark room quickly, not as bad anymore).

Your lucky your insurance covers it! With insurance - no line bifocals with the lenses that are lighter and treated, with transition lenses its around 500. With the new transition type lenses you have 600! Ouch!
That's at my eye doctor - I'm shopping around!

 

[Lilliputian]

Apparently there are different brands of Transitions. Different labs use different ones, and the more expensive labs are the ones that tend to use the better ones. There's a chart out there that explains the different ones, and you can ask the shop where you get yours what type they use, but I don't remember where I saw that and can't provide a link. I was considering them for my 2 year old, but the lab we use can't do any Transitions for his prescription strength (over a +14 plus bifocals).

 

[ThisIsJason]

Your lucky your insurance covers it! With insurance - no line bifocals with the lenses that are lighter and treated, with transition lenses its around 500. With the new transition type lenses you have 600! Ouch!
That's at my eye doctor - I'm shopping around!

I know how lucky I am with my eye insurance (well, my wife's eye insurance, mine royally stinks). When I ordered them the bill before insurance was $638, out the door I paid $201.