Transitions lenses

[Bibbidi]

Tell me I made the right choice---DH, DD6 and I all ordered new glasses yesterday at the eye doctor. We also chose to get all three pair with transitions lenses since we don't want the added cost of prescription sunglasses too. DH has a pair of gonky looking sunglasses that go over his current glasses and he was OK with those, but the transitions sound really good. It was $65 per pair to add the transition feature--did we make a good choice? (FWIW last summer at the beach I just wore nonprescription sunglasses while reading outside and paid for it with daily headaches--so I really do need to be wearing my bifocals all the time--which is why I chose the transition for myself).

 

[OceanAnnie]

I'm interested in this too.

I have a new prescription, not too much different but it's about time for new glasses. I have regular glasses and prescription sunglasses. It would be nice not to have to switch out my glasses so often. I do like them both though.

 

[jel0511]

My DH and both of my kids have transitions. They love them!! The only issue is that they don't work in the car, since there is no UV (which is what make them darken) in the car. DH is o.k. with it, but I think a cheap pair of clip ons for the car would be GREAT, but so far DH (who has had them for 2 years) doesn't think them necessary. I had lasik 7 years ago, so my glasses are long gone, if I was still wearing them I'd have a pair.......

 

[Bibbidi]

My DH and both of my kids have transitions. They love them!! The only issue is that they don't work in the car, since there is no UV (which is what make them darken) in the car. DH is o.k. with it, but I think a cheap pair of clip ons for the car would be GREAT, but so far DH (who has had them for 2 years) doesn't think them necessary. I had lasik 7 years ago, so my glasses are long gone, if I was still wearing them I'd have a pair.......

Thank you for the good news! We were aware of the car issue and my DH will probably still use his gonky looking sunglass "covers" while driving--my biggest concern has been that the glasses would look "tinted" while inside--I have fair skin and I just don't want that 70's "tinted" look when I'm not in the sun!

 

[charming23]

My mom loves hers. She wore them while in Disney and liked the fact that as we walked in and out of buildings she did not have to keep switching her glasses. I am seriously thinking of getting a pair myself once I need new glasses.

 

[Astro Orbiter]

I've had them for a few years and, overall, like them. I have the brown tint. What I don't like is -

(1) That they don't change in the car. OK, I bought over-the-glasses sunglasses at Walmart Optical for every car and that works fine.

(2) That in the sun they don't get as dark as I'd love. I've lived in SoFL and SoCal, so my sunny days are pretty bright and common. In a perfect world, with perfect eyes, I'd buy darker glasses.

(3) Because I have pretty bad eyes, I'm always recommended the smaller frames. That means more sunlight getting to my eyes from around the frames. (Think about popular sunglasses - bigger lenses - and popular glasses - smaller lenses.)

(4) That they don't change back as quickly as I thought. I can see just fine, but in pics it looks like I have tinted glasses.

Deb

 

[Inigo]

I have transitions lenses, and I really don't care for them. This is my first pair of glasses, and I was used to wearing polarized sunglasses. The sunglasses would be dark enough and seemed to protect my eyes. I find myself squinting to keep the sun out of my eyes when I have my transitions glasses on. They don't seem to be very good at being sunglasses to me.

I keep regular sunglasses in my purse to use, and just take off my regular glasses, so I feel I wasted my money on the transition lenses.

 

[Chuck S]

I like my transitions. I do wish they'd get a little darker outside, sometimes. But for me it sure beats having to carry an additional pair of sunglasses and switching between them all the time, or using clip-ons.

I wish I could wear contacts, but the doctor doesn;t think they are a good option for me, as I can hardly stand to even have eye drops put into my eyes. I have an involuntary "squint" reaction when that makes getting the drops in very difficult. I can't imagine having to put a lens in my eye.

 

[Pakey]

I have had transitions for 20 years due to the damage to my eyes when I was a sun worshipper as a teenager. We have multiple buildings at work and I go between them constantly and they work well for that.

Although the quality of transitions has improved, I do not think they are a good substitute for sunglasses as they do not get that dark.

 

[SandrA9810]

I was working at Disney when I went from transitions to non. At that time, I really could tell the difference. Working outside for 2-3hrs at a time, they could get pretty dark, but it wasn't dark like sunglasses that I could easily tell. but the minute I walked indoors, everything was darker than it should've been. It usually took a few minutes for them to adjust back. And they don't go as dark as they appear on the commercials.

My next pair of glasses didn't have it, that's when I noticed how bad the sun's glare really was. And while transitions weren't as good as sunglasses, they really did help.

I have prescription Oakley's that are blue mirrored, so they do not meet the Disney Look. And I couldn't wear them at work. They're also very expensive, so I don't wear them all the time. Only when I know I'll be outside or driving in the car for an extended period of time. I hate switching back and forth.

If you're looking for something for the summer beach, they will not meet your expectations. But you'll find less strain on your eyes as you go in and out of stores/the car. You're better choice would've been to get glasses with the magnet clip-on. They make them in all shapes and sizes, and even without the clip on, you wouldn't realize they were made for it.

 

[mamalle]

our insurance covers transitional lenses and its a great benefit. we live in south fla and mine change without a issue and our darker then my brighton sunglasses that I wear when I have my contacts in. really if I had to wear glasses all the time- I would definitely add this to them if I had to pay for it..

 

[vacamomma]

Not a bad price for your transitions however just remember. They are a comfort lens they are not to replace sunglasses. My wharehouse club sells rx sunglasses for $95 it includes your frame and polarized lenses. Polarized lenses take away glare, transitions do not.

 

[bumbershoot]

Hubby got them with his last glasses. I tried to talk him out of it, b/c the friend that had them in high school in the 80s had permanently smokey lenses. He insisted...he's had permanently smokey lenses. NO change in the technology in 20 years.

He's getting rid of them, b/c HE hated them, too. No help in the car, his old frames (which had a clip on sunglass lense) didn't fit the frame, didn't get dark enough even in the brightest sun, never got totally clear (especially b/c we live in a particularly sunny apartment). Useless.

Sorry!

Good news is...if they don't like them but like the frames, when it's time to get frames again...what we're doing is...paying OOP for a presciption sunglass lens to go in existing frame, and getting new frame and new lens for non-sunglass prescription. After 8 years of Lasik my eyes finally need help, and I had a very negative experience with Lasik, so I'm getting a prescription lens put in my old glasses (the ones I got just before deciding on lasik), using insurance for a new frame, and paying for prescription sunglass lens. So we're both doing the same thing.

So if they hate them, that's something to look forward to, when it's time for insurance to pay for new frames.

 

[Chuck S]

My are not smokey at all inside. They are as clear and light as my previous non-transition lenses.

 

[mamalle]

anti glare is nice also. I have every option on mine. My eye glass office was quite impressed with our eye benefits. I was happy they only cost me a $20 copay

 

[kacaju]

I ahve them and I love them. My glasses are clear as can be when I am inside. The only thing i have noticed is when it is really cold outside and I come in they take a long time to transition back to normal glasses. In the hot weather I never notice when they change

 

[cristbaby]

I've had them for at least 5 yrs and I love them. They are not as dark as regular sunglasses but the benefits are great. They do not stay dark inside and it does not take long for them to change from outdoors to indoors. I do have clip on sunglasses for the beach though. But that is the only time I wear them.

 

[mrsstats]

DH and I find they dont get dark enough as sunglasses. I have the clip ons and a pair of prescription sunglasses. The sunglasses are the best.

 

[kaywoody]

My DH and DDs all had them last year. DH has had them for years and loves them as does our DD7. The DD10 didn't like them because they didn't change quick enough when she comes indoors, so she didn't get them again this year. However, in ALL our outdoor pictures she is squinting! So I'm sure she squints the whole time she's outdoors which can't be good for her. I'm going to remind her about the squinting when they get new glasses again in the summer.

 

[Stitch And Friends]

They are fine for general going in and out of stores and the office, but not for long days outside. As other posters have said, I find they are not enough when in the sun for long periods of time since regular glasses are not as large as sunglasses so they don't cover enough. I have also noticed the issue with them taking a long time to change in cold (ecspecially the past few weeks when it's been really cold here in the northeast!). I'm probably getting new glasses this year and am torn if I'm going to go with the transitions again. I have been leaning against it. If you do get them, go with grey over brown. While neither really get dark enough to permanently replace sunglasses, the grey do get darker than the brown lenses.